Baltimore riots 2015: why the city looks like a war zone

A state of emergency has been declared in the US city of Baltimore and the National Guard has been deployed in response to violence that erupted in the wake of the death of black man, injured in police custody.

Violent clashes between police and protesters began just hours after the funeral of Freddie Gray, who died in hospital earlier this month after spending a week in a coma.

Shops were looted and a community building and police vehicles were set on fire as police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse crowds. A week-long curfew has now been imposed and public schools have been closed for the day.

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"Today's looting and acts of violence in Baltimore will not be tolerated," said Maryland governor Larry Hogan. "There is a significant difference between protesting and violence, and those committing these acts will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law."

Gray's family has condemned the violence. "I want y'all to get justice for my son, but don't do it like this here," his mother told CNN.

Gray was arrested earlier this month after making eye contact with a police officer in a public space and then running away. The 25-year old later died in police custody from a fatal spinal cord injury.

Video footage of the arrest showed officers dragging a screaming Gray to a police van. It is unclear whether his injuries were sustained when he was initially detained or during the time he spent in the back of police van, handcuffed and in leg irons - but not wearing a seatbelt.

The police department has admitted that it failed to get him medical attention "in a timely manner" and says it is investigating the case. Six police officers have been suspended with pay.

Gray's death comes in the wake of several police killings in the US which have sparked nationwide protest and debate about police officers' use of deadly force, particularly on unarmed black men.

The family's lawyer put his death in a wider context. "Most of us are not here because we knew Freddie Gray, but we are all here because we know lots of Freddie Grays, too many," William Murphy Jr said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"Freddie's death is not in vain," the Reverend Jamal Bryant said in his eulogy at the funeral. "After this day, we are going to keep on marching. After this day, we are going to keep on demanding justice. After this day, we are going to keep exposing our culture of corruption."