State of emergency declared in Baltimore

Firefighters are battling a massive blaze in Baltimore as the city descends into chaos following the funeral of an African American man who died in police custody.

A new $16 million nursing home built by a baptist church on the east side of Baltimore was ablaze. Two blocks away, a housing development was also on fire.

Officials warned media the fires could be a distraction to lure law enforcement away from other locations.

A man has his eyes cleaned after being sprayed with pepper spray.

Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency after at least 15 officers were injured in the violent street clashes.

One of the officers is "unresponsive" and some had broken bones, according to Captain Eric Kowalczyk.

Baltimore police have requested an extra 5,500 officers be called in as they struggle to control the violence.

Rioters looted stores and hurled rocks and bricks at Baltimore police, injuring several officers just hours after thousands mourned the man who died after suffering a severe spinal injury in police custody.

Several hours later, the city remained in chaos. The Baltimore Orioles postponed their game tonight to avoid prolonging the clashes.

Smoke billows from a CVS Pharmacy store in Baltimore. Photo: AP

Television footage showed a police cruiser in flames and stores being overrun by small groups of people. A CVS store was set ablaze. Officers using shields and wearing helmets used pepper-spray in an effort to keep the rioters back.

A helicopter circled overhead as groups of rioters moved through the city. One group piled onto and rode a car as it drove down the street. Officers for the most part formed lines to keep protesters at bay.

The riot is the latest flare-up over the mysterious death of Freddie Gray, whose fatal encounter with officers came amid the national debate over police use of force, especially when black suspects are involved. Gray was African-American.

The smell of burned rubber wafted in the air in one neighbourhood where youths were looting a liquor store. Glass and trash littered the streets, and small fires were scattered about. One person from a church tried to shout something from a megaphone as two cars burned.

Chaotic scenes in Baltimore. Photo: AP

Gray's family was shocked by the violence and was lying low; instead, they hoped to organize a peace march later in the week, said family attorney Billy Murphy. He said they did not know the riot was going to happen and urged calm.

"They don't want this movement nationally to be marred by violence," he said. "It makes no sense."

A firefighter pulls hoses toward a burning store.

Police urged parents to locate their children and bring them home. Many of those on the streets appeared to be African-American youths, wearing backpacks and khaki pants that are a part of many public school uniforms.

The riot broke out just as high school let out, and at a key city bus depot for student commuters.

Many who had never met Gray gathered earlier in the day in a Baltimore church to bid him farewell and press for more accountability among law enforcement.

The 2,500-capacity New Shiloh Baptist church was filled with mourners. But even the funeral could not ease mounting tensions.

Police said in a news release sent while the funeral was underway that the department had received a "credible threat" that three notoriously violent gangs are now working together to "take out" law enforcement officers.

A small group of mourners started lining up about two hours ahead of Monday's funeral.

A protestors confronts Baltimore Police officers with his hands up.

Placed atop Gray's body was a white pillow with a screened picture of him. A projector aimed at two screens on the walls showed the words "Black Lives Matter & All Lives Matter."

The service lasted nearly two hours, with dignitaries in attendance including former Maryland representative and NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume and current Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes.

Erica Garner, 24, the daughter of Eric Garner, attended Gray's funeral. She said she came after seeing video of Gray's arrest, which she said reminded her of her father's shouts that he could not breathe when he was being arrested on a New York City street. Garner died during the confrontation.

"It's like there is no accountability, no justice," she said. "It's like we're back in the '50s, back in the Martin Luther King days. When is our day to be free going to come?"

With the Reverand Jesse Jackson sitting behind him, the Reverand Jamal Bryant gave a rousing and spirited eulogy for Freddie Gray, a message that received a standing ovation from the crowded church.

Bryant said Gray's death would spur further protests, and he urged those in the audience to join.

"Freddie's death is not in vain," Bryant said. "After this day, we're going to keep on marching. After this day, we're going to keep demanding justice."

Freddie Gray. Photo: Supplied

Gray was arrested one week before he died when officers chased him through a West Baltimore neighborhood and dragged him into a police van.

Police said Gray was arrested after he made eye contact with officers and ran away. Officers held him down, handcuffed him and loaded him into the van. While inside, he became irate and leg cuffs were put on him, police have said.

Gray asked for medical help several times, beginning before he was placed in the van. After a 30-minute ride that included three stops, paramedics were called.

Authorities have not explained how or when Gray's spine was injured.

Police acknowledged Friday that Gray should have received medical attention on the spot where he was arrested — before he was put inside a police transport van handcuffed and without a seat belt, a violation of the police department's policy.

Morning news break – April 28