Baltimore erupts in riots after funeral of man who died in police custody

By Ian Simpson BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Protesters hurled bricks, looted businesses and set fires in Baltimore on Monday in violence that injured at least seven police officers following the funeral of a 25-year-old black man who died after he was injured in police custody. The riots broke out just a few blocks from the funeral of Freddie Gray and then spread through parts of Baltimore in the most violent U.S. demonstrations since looting in Ferguson, Missouri, last year. A CVS pharmacy that had been looted was on fire on Monday evening as police moved into an area where rioters sacked businesses and destroyed vehicles. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan put the state's National Guard on alert and additional state troopers were sent to Baltimore. An Orioles baseball game was cancelled and schools, businesses and train stations shut down in the city of 662,000 people 40 miles (64 km) from the nation's capital. Gray's death on April 19 reignited a public outcry over police treatment of African Americans that flared last year after the killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, New York City and elsewhere. A string of deadly confrontations between mostly white police and black men, and the violence it has prompted, will be among the challenges facing U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who was sworn in on Monday. Following her swearing in, Lynch signalled that improving relations between police and the communities they protect will be high on her agenda. "We can restore trust and faith both in our laws and in those of us who enforce them," she said. Baltimore police initially showed restraint on Monday but then began arresting people and prepared to use teargas and pepper spray. "It is disappointing just a few hours after putting Gray to rest," Reverend Jamal Bryant who spoke at the funeral told reporters. "This is not what the family asked for today of all days. This was a day of sacred closure." Bryant said pastors and other community leaders were going to the scene to try to calm riots and prevent looting. BALTIMORE A TROUBLED CITY Baltimore Police Captain Eric Kowalczyk said at a briefing that one of the injured police officers was unresponsive and several had broken bones. Earlier, police urged officers to take steps to ensure their safety after they reported receiving a "credible threat" of attacks on law enforcement. The largely black city has long struggled with high crime and gangs, a reputation that has made it the setting for gritty television police dramas such as "The Wire." Last year officials adopted one of the strictest youth curfews in the United States in an effort to tackle its crime problems. At the funeral, speaker after speaker before the crowd packing the 2,500-seat New Shiloh Baptist Church said the world was watching to see if justice would be done for Gray. Before the service, Gray's body, clad in a white shirt, black tie and dark pants, lay in an open white coffin in front of the altar as mourners passed by. The coffin was closed during the service. Gray was arrested on April 12 when he fled from police in a high-crime area. He was carrying a switchblade knife, and he was put inside a transport van to be taken to a police station. At some point, Gray suffered the spinal injury that led to his death a week later. City Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said on Friday that officers failed to belt him into his seat securely and to give him timely medical attention. Police have said they would conclude their investigation by Friday and forward the results to state prosecutors. Six officers have been suspended, and the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the incident for possible civil rights violations. (Additional reporting by Scott Malone in Boston, Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles and Richard Cowan in Washington; Writing by Fiona Ortiz; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Lisa Shumaker)