• e-mail

Tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters have flocked to anti-racism rallies across the globe after the killing of George Floyd sparked a wave of unrest.

The worldwide wave of solidarity also served to highlight racial discrimination outside the United States. 

Crowds descended on cities across the world and were pictured at demonstrations in Munich, Germany, and Seoul, South Korea. 

People held placards saying 'I can't breathe' and set off flares in Liege, Belgium, as they donned facemasks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In Paris, demonstrators tried to gather in front of the US Embassy, defying Covid-19  restrictions imposed by authorities.

They were met by riot police who turned people on their way to the embassy, which French security forces sealed off behind an imposing ring of metal barriers and road blocks. 

Floyd was killed when white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite Floyd's desperate pleas that he 'can't breathe'. He passed out and later died in Minneapolis on May 25.

His death is seen as a symbol of systemic police brutality against African-Americans sparking outrage and largely-peaceful protests first across the US before quickly spreading worldwide.

Protesters wearing protective masks kneel and hold 'May George Floyd Rest In Peace' and 'We Against Racism' placards during a demonstration in Seoul, South Korea 

Protesters raise their fists as they take part in a demonstration in support of the ongoing protests in the United States after George Floyd's death, in Liege, Belgium, yesterday

People are pictured gathering at a demonstration in Munich, Germany, as they protest the death of George Floyd in the US

Protesters are pictured gathering in Seoul, South Korea, at a Black Lives Matters demonstration in memory of George Floyd yesterday 

Black Lives Matter protesters are pictured gathering in Munich, Germany, yesterday as demonstrations continue across the world 

Huge crowds gathered in London yesterday for a largely-peaceful protest in Parliament Square before they marched on the US Embassy

In Liege, Belgium, a huge crowd gathered to protest following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in the US

Demonstrators in Liege, Belgium, lit flares and raised their fists to the sky during a protest for the Black Lives Matter movement

Protesters marched along the streets of Liege, Belgium, on the way to the Place Saint Lambert in front of the Palais de Justice yesterday

Protesters lay on the floor in Liege, some clutching signs and others wearing shirts reading 'I can't breathe' during the demonstration

Munich also saw demonstrations yesterday. Protesters clutched signs reading 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Say Their Names'

In Paris, Egountchi Behanzin, a founder of the Black African Defence League, told police: 'You can fine me 10,000 or 20,000 times, the revolt will happen anyway.

'It is because of you that we are here.'

In Sydney, protesters won a last-minute appeal against a ruling declaring their rally was unauthorised.

The New South Wales Court of Appeal gave the green light just 12 minutes before the rally was scheduled to start, meaning those taking part could not be arrested.

Up to 1,000 protesters had already gathered in the Town Hall area of Sydney ahead of the decision. 

In Munich, protesters gathered to protest the death of George Floyd, as well as police brutality in Germany itself

Demonstrators clutched signs reading: 'Racism is the true virus' and 'Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by colour'

Demonstrators lay on the ground during a protest in Prague, Czech Republic, as demonstrators took to streets across the world

In Sydney, there was one early scuffle when police removed a man who appeared to be a counter protester carrying a sign reading: 'White Lives, Black Lives, All Lives Matter.'

The rally appeared orderly as police handed out masks to protesters and other officials provided hand sanitiser.

In Brisbane, the Queensland state capital, organisers said about 30,000 people gathered, forcing police to shut down some major streets. The protesters demanded to have Australia's Indigenous flag raised at the police station.

State environment minister Leeanne Enoch encouraged Queenslanders to speak out.

She said: 'Whether you're talking about the US or right here in Australia, black lives matter. Black lives matter today. Black lives matter every day.'

Indigenous Australians make up 2 per cent of the the country's adult population, but 27 per cent of the prison population.

They are also the most disadvantaged ethnic minority in Australia and have higher-than-average rates of infant mortality and poor health, as well as shorter life expectancies and lower levels of education and employment than other Australians.

In South Korea's capital, Seoul, protesters gathered for a second straight day to denounce Floyd's death.

Wearing masks and black shirts, dozens of demonstrators marched through a commercial district amid a police escort, carrying signs such as 'George Floyd Rest in Peace' and 'Koreans for Black Lives Matter'.

In Tokyo, dozens of people gathered in a peaceful protest.

In Berlin, thousands of mostly young people, many dressed in black and wearing face masks, joined a Black Lives Matter demo in the Alexanderplatz, or Alexander Square, on Saturday.

Some held up placards with slogans such as 'Be the change', 'I can't breathe' and 'Germany is not innocent'.

Last night a policewoman was hospitalised after her horse bolted and another 10 officers were injured after clashes erupted at the Black Lives Matter protests in London. 

Flares were hurled and a Boris bike was thrown at a police horse as tens of thousands of protesters packed into Parliament Square, despite Priti Patel urging them to stay away to avoid the Covid danger of large crowds.

Despite the majority of the protests remaining peaceful throughout the day, violence erupted on Whitehall at 7pm after tens of thousands of protesters had gathered in the capital to oppose racism and demand justice for George Floyd. 

Madonna attended the march on crutches and other celebrities attending included Boris Becker and Anthony Joshua. 

In the melee a missile was fired near a police horse, causing it to bolt and charge down Whitehall. 

The female officer riding it slammed into a traffic light and was knocked unconscious before the horse continued galloping down Whitehall where it hit a woman protester and a lamppost. 

In Prague, Czech Republic, protesters kneeled in the old town Square to protest against police brutality and racism

In the melee a missile was fired near a police horse, causing it to bolt and charge down Whitehall. The female officer riding it slammed into a traffic light and was knocked unconscious before the horse continued galloping down Whitehall where it hit a woman protester and a lamppost last night

An injured police officer lays on the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street in central London

One masked man rolled a Boris bike straight into the path of a mounted horse. Others were seen on social media throwing projectiles such as water bottles at riot police 

Protesters take part in a demonstration in support of the ongoing protests in the United States after George Floyd's death, in Liege, Belgium, yesterday

After that, groups of men hurled two Boris bikes at police horses, startling the terrified animals. 

In reaction to the chaos Priti Patel last night said violence towards police at protests was 'completely unacceptable' and gave officers her 'full support in tackling disorderly behaviour'.

Writing on Twitter, she said: 'Protests must be peaceful and in accordance with social distancing rules. Violence towards a police officer is completely unacceptable at any time.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also tweeted saying: 'To the tiny minority who were violent and threw glass bottles and lit flares - you endangered a safe and peaceful protest and let down this important cause.' 

Tensions had been simmering for more than an hour at the end of Downing Street where around 400 people had gathered but the situation escalated after two flares were thrown over the security gates into the street. 

Bottles and other missiles were hurled as riot squad officers emerged from behind the gates.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 14 arrests were made and 10 officers were injured in the fracas.

The force added: 'The officer is currently in hospital, receiving treatment for her injuries which are not life-threatening. The officer fell from her horse, and we are examining the full circumstances of what took place.'