Ferguson unrest: Police came under 'heavy gunfire' in unrest over black teen's shooting

Law enforcement offices watch on during a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri on Aug 18, 2014. The police came under "heavy gunfire" and 31 people were arrested, the authorities said on Tuesday, in racial unrest in Ferguson,
Law enforcement offices watch on during a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri on Aug 18, 2014. The police came under "heavy gunfire" and 31 people were arrested, the authorities said on Tuesday, in racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri sparked by the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman 10 days ago. -- PHOTO: AFP

FERGUSON, Missouri (Reuters/AFP) - The police came under "heavy gunfire" and 31 people were arrested, the authorities said on Tuesday, in racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri sparked by the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman 10 days ago.

"Not a single bullet was fired by officers despite coming under heavy attack (on Monday night)," State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson told a news conference, adding that the police had confiscated two guns from protesters.

Demonstrations, mostly peaceful but with spasms of violence by smaller groups, have flared since Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead during an incident with a policeman in a patrol car while walking down a residential street in Ferguson on Aug 9.

Two people were shot and wounded on Monday in the latest night of unrest in Ferguson, the police said. The wounded were hit by gunfire from demonstrators in the midwestern town, as police did not open fire, said Capt Johnson.

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