Ferguson Puts Up Shutters Amid Mayhem Fear

Ferguson is bracing itself for another night of mayhem as outrage continues over a grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer who shot dead a black teenager.

The Missouri suburb looks like a hurricane has torn through it.

Businesses have been boarded up. Dozens have had windows smashed or been razed.

On West Florissant Avenue, epicentre of the unrest, the smoking skeleton of a beautician's - its plastic sign "Prime Beauty" charred in the rubble - draws a crowd of onlookers.

Across the road, glaziers are fixing the windows of Walgreens pharmacist, smashed in Monday night's pandemonium.

Inside, giant cuddly toys sprawl in the aisles amid the broken glass.

St Louis resident Paul Mic, 25, is disillusioned with America and disgusted by the failure to indict the cop who gunned down Michael Brown.

The DJ says he is attracted by the idea of life in the UK, where he believes racism is not so bad.

"The whole (US) constitution is a lie," he says. "Justice and equality for all; one nation indivisible under God. But it's very divided."

Downtown, about 10 armed members of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia, have travelled to Ferguson, some from as far away as Iowa, to help guard local businesses.

The group's leader, who gave his name only as Sam, wore military fatigues while carrying a pistol and a custom-made, semi-automatic rifle fitted with a silencer.

He said his group was ready to use lethal force to protect premises from arsonists.

Sam said: "The people of Ferguson have learned a sad and difficult lesson, that there aren't enough police and National Guard to help police all the homes and businesses.

"When you see a militarised police force and angry citizens who choose to be violent it becomes a very volatile and dangerous situation."

As the sun sets on Ferguson, the community seems to twitch with anticipation.

National Guard armoured cars roam the streets, while helicopters buzz in the skies above.

In the car park of a strip mall, St Louis police chief Jon Belmar tells a press conference that a beefed-up law enforcement will do its best to prevent last night's cauldron of strife replaying.

He said of the rioters: "They've not only taken advantage of the business owners and the community, but of Michael Brown's life and legacy.

"Some good has to come out of this, or else an 18-year-old man lost his life for nothing."

He was flanked by Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson, who said: "A lot of our residents woke up in tears this morning. They woke up heartbroken. It's going to take a lot of time to heal."

But some activists are sceptical of calls for calm from the police, even African-American ones like Capt Johnson.

David Whitt, from Copwatch, an anti-police brutality group, told Sky News: "I don't need this puppet black come talk to me, giving me half-assed apologies for something a white officer did."

He said he did not want the Ferguson powder keg to turn into a race war.

Despite all the rancour and division, not everyone in the community seems to hate the police.

Mother-of-two Stephanie Gillespie, 48, said: "I get nervous if they pull me over. You can't trust them. But they're not all bad. It just takes a few to give all of them a bad name."

Outside Ferguson Market & Liquor, the shop where Mr Brown allegedly stole some cigars minutes before he was shot dead by Officer Darren Wilson, repairmen are at work after it was ransacked yet again.

Someone has sprayed "F*** the police" on the window boards.

Missouri State Police sergeant Rick Sanders is chatting about baseball and basketball with a local man and woman.

"I've always had hope in this community," he tells Sky News with a broad smile. "I've never lost hope."