A man has been released by police in Minnesota after driving his truck through a highway protest at the weekend.
Video released by the Minnesota Department of Transportation shows thousands of protesters gathered on the Interstate 35W bridge in Hennepin County, Minneapolis on Sunday (local time). The group then runs off the highway as the truck speeds towards them.
As the truck grinds to a halt after nearly driving over a protester on the ground, other demonstrators run back towards the truck and open its door to approach the offending truck driver.
Bogdan Vechirko, 35, has been identified as the offending driver. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office confirmed he was released from custody on Tuesday.
"Investigators are in the process of gathering additional information and answers to aid in the charging decision," said a statement from the office, as reported by CBS Minnesota. Miraculously, no-one was killed or seriously injured in the incident.
The protesters were demonstrating over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis while being arrested last week.
Cities across the US have since witnessed a seventh consecutive night of demonstrations as result of his death. Minneapolis was left smouldering as businesses were defaced, set alight and robbed as peaceful protests turned into violent riots.
US President Donald Trump earlier this week threatened to deploy the US military to restore order, as the rioting spread to various states.
Violent protesters took the streets of riot-ravaged New York on Monday night (local time), vandalising buildings and smashing shop windows. Twenty-nine states have called in the National Guard.
Footage posted to social media has captured New York Police Department vehicles purposely driving into protesters in Brooklyn, officers violently pushing female demonstrators, and frequent assaults on media personnel, including an Australian reporter and cameraman.
