US President Donald Trump has vowed to deploy the military to "dominate the streets" of the United States if states cannot deal with riots and looting themselves.
Mr Trump said protesters had a right to demonstrate against the death of George Floyd, who died after being pinned down by a police officer, who knelt on his neck.
"I am your President of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters, but in recent days our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa and others," he said at a White House press conference.
"We cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob.
"These are not acts of peaceful protests. These are acts of domestic terror."
Mr Trump said he had "strongly recommended" every state governor deploy the National Guard — the military reserve force — to "dominate the streets" of their cities.
"Mayors and governors must establish and overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled," he said.
"If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them."
Mr Trump also announced a "strictly enforced" 7:00pm curfew in Washington DC, which he said had been subject to "rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property" on Sunday night (US time).
He said anti-fascist group Antifa was a "leading instigator" of the riots.
"Those who threaten innocent lives and property, will be arrested, detained and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said.
"I want the organisers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail. This includes Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence."
More to come.
