George Floyd protests: Cheers erupt as all four police officers charged and demonstrators defy US cities' curfews

Protesters defied curfews and returned to the streets for a ninth consecutive night as civil unrest sparked by death of George Floyd continued to sweep across the US.

Cheers erupted in Minneapolis, the epicentre of clashes, when news broke that three further police officers had been charged in connection with Mr Floyd’s death.

A charge of third-degree murder against former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin has been upgraded to second-degree murder, while three others have now been charged with aiding and abetting a murder.

Mr Floyd, 46, an unarmed black man, died on May 25 after his Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck almost nine minutes during an arrest.

The development also calmed protesters in Atlanta, Seattle and Washington DC.

In the nation’s capital, demonstrators held up their phone torches in Lafayette Square, blocks from the White House, past 2am, despite the 11pm curfew.

It came as former US president Barack Obama praised the protesters at a virtual town hall on Wednesday for capturing the public mood of America.

"I want you to know that you matter. I want you to know that your lives matter, that your dreams matter," he said.

"Just remember, this country was founded on protest," he added.

Yesterday thousands of people flocked to London's Hyde Park and marched on Parliament Square for a London Black Lives Matter protest.

Activists, several wearing masks, waved placards and chanted "Black Lives Matter” and “no justice, no peace” as the demonstration got under way. Other signs read: “UK aren’t innocent”.

Star Wars actor John Boyega, who was born in south London, made an emotional address to the crowd using a megaphone.

A largely peaceful protest was marred by pockets of violence later in the day as some demonstrators hurled temporary barriers and glass bottles at the gates of Downing Street, and riot police were deployed amid skirmishes.

The anger over Mr Floyd’s death once again spilled over into riots and violence in some US cities following days of clashes between police and activists.

In New York, a confrontation in Brooklyn late on Wednesday left one police officer stabbed in the neck, two officers with gunshot wounds to their hands and another man shot by police, the city’s police department said.

The officers were taken to a hospital with wounds that were not thought to be life-threatening, the department said. The condition of the man shot by police was not immediately released.

Meanwhile in New Orleans, police fired tear gas to disperse protestors after “escalating, physical confrontation” on officers.

At least 200 National Guard troops are also being drafted in across San Diego County in southern California to stop looting and arson, the sheriff’s department announced last night.

The latest night of civil unrest came as memorial services to honour George Floyd were announced across three cities, representing places where he was born, grew up and died.

The first service will be Thursday afternoon at North Central University in Minneapolis. Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, and Floyd family attorney Ben Crump will speak.

"It would be inadequate if you did not regard the life and love and celebration the family wants," said Rev. Sharpton, the civil rights leader who will eulogize Floyd in two cities.

"But it would also be inadequate ... if you acted as though we're at a funeral that happened under natural circumstances."

Mr Floyd's body will then go to his birthplace of Raeford, North Carolina, for a two-hour public viewing and private service for the family on Saturday.

Finally, a public viewing will be held Monday in Houston, where he was raised and lived most of his life.

A 500-person service on Tuesday will take place at The Fountain of Praise church.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, may attend alongside other political figures and celebrities are expected as well. A private burial will follow.

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