CNN reporter arrested live on air by Minnesota police, released an hour later

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A CNN reporter and his crew were arrested live on air by police in Minneapolis early on Friday, after a night of continued protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was handcuffed on the ground while police knelt on his back and neck.

CNN's Omar Jimenez, who the cable network said identifies as black and Latino, and his producer, cameraman and a security guard they hired were arrested live on air before being released later in the morning. They were covering the increasingly violent protests that have erupted over Floyd's killing, which has renewed outcry about the deaths of black people at the hands of police in the US.

Minneapolis state police arrested reporter Omar Jimenez while he was live on air.

Jimenez, who was arrested while broadcasting live, is already back reporting live on camera.

"Everyone to their credit was pretty cordial after that happened," Jimenez said of his arrest, adding that an officer told him that he was only following orders. "They weren't violent with me," he said.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz apologised to CNN later in the morning, saying he took total responsibility for the arrests.

"This is a very public apology to that team," Walz said at a news conference.

The incident took place as Jimenez and his team had just shown a protester being arrested when about half-a-dozen white Minnesota State Patrol officers surrounded them.

"We can move back to where you like," Jimenez told the officers, who were wearing gas masks and face shields, before explaining that he and his crew were members of the media.

"We're getting out of your way.

"This is among the State Patrol unit that was advancing up the street, seeing and scattering the protesters at that point for people to clear the area. And so we walked away," Jimenez said, before being told he was under arrest and handcuffed by two officers. "Why am I under arrest, sir?"