Baltimore curfew lifted by mayor following protests

A daily 10pm curfew in Baltimore, which had been in effect for five nights following violent protests over the death of Freddie Gray, has been lifted by the city's mayor.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said on Twitter: "I have rescinded my order instituting a city-wide curfew. I want to thank the people of Baltimore for their patience."

It comes after six police officers involved in Gray's arrest were charged over his death, including counts of manslaughter and murder.

A post-mortem revealed Gray suffered a broken neck after being handcuffed, shackled and placed head-first into a police van.

Read more: Six police officers face charges over death of Freddie Gray

Representatives of six Baltimore police officers have condemned the city's senior prosecutor to bring charges over the death of Freddie Gray in custody.

The State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said Mr Gray's arrest was illegal and unjustified and brought charges against the officers ranging from assault to murder.

She said his neck was broken because he was handcuffed, shackled and placed head-first into a police van, where his pleas for medical attention were repeatedly ignored as he bounced around inside the small metal box.

Caesar R Goodson Jr, a black officer who drove the police van, was charged with second-degree murder, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

All six officers - three black and three white, five men and one woman - have been released on bail.

However, the president of the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police said they were not responsible for Mr Gray's death.

"We are disappointed in the apparent rush to judgment given the fact the investigation into this matter has not been concluded," said Gene Ryan.

People have been celebrating on the streets of Baltimore after the announcement that five men and a woman, all serving police officers, will be face charges over the death of 25-year-old black man Freddie Gray.

Gray died after sustaining injuries in police custody after he was wrongly arrested in April.

Richard Shipley, Freddie Gray's step-father, has called for calm in the name of the whole Gray family.

Mr Shipley said it was time for Baltimore "to get back to work" after several days of unrest following the news of Freddie's death.

Speaking at a press conference Mr Shipley welcomed the news that six officers will be prosecuted over Freddie's death after injuries sustained in custody.

Crowds cheering the news that six police officers are facing charges over the death and detention of Freddie Gray are being monitored by the National Guard, who were called in after several days unrest.

ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore is there:

The Mayor of Baltimore has said she was; "I was sickened and heartbroken by the statement of charges that we heard today, because no one in our city is above the law."

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was speaking after it was confirmed six officers involved in the arrest and the death of Freddie Gray will be charged.

Six American police officers - whose treatment of a black man they had wrongly arrested provoked several days of violent protests in Baltimore - are to be charged.

They are accused of murder, manslaughter and assault. Freddie Gray, 25, died after suffering injuries while handcuffed inside a moving police van.

• Charges brought against six Baltimore police officers

ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports:

US President Barack Obama has said that it is "vital that the truth comes out" in relation to to the death in police custody of Freddie Gray which led to several nights of unrest in Baltimore.

Speaking after it was announced today that six Baltimore police officers will face charges over the death of the 25-year-old, Obama said: "It is absolutely vital that the truth comes out on what happened to Mr Freddie Gray."

Six Baltimore police officers will face charges over the death of Freddie Gray who died as a result of injuries sustained while in custody.

His arrest has been already been found to have been illegal.

Some cheers were heard as Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby read out the list of charges against the five male and one female officers:

The Baltimore police union says the six officers charged over the death of Freddie Gray are not responsible for his death and were diligent in the case, reports the Associated Press.