Police officer Derek Chauvin charged with third degree murder of George Floyd

The shamed cop was one of four officers fired following the horrifying incident in Minneapolis on Monday

Sacked police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third degree murder and manslaughter after he was pictured kneeling on the neck of George Floyd.

The shamed cop was one of four officers fired following the horrifying incident in Minneapolis on Monday.

Mr Floyd was filmed repeatedly saying he could not breathe as he was pinned to the ground by Chauvin, and died shortly afterwards.

His death has sparked huge anger, with violent protests and calls for the officers involved to face murder charges.

Today, after four days of unrest, authorities finally confirmed Chauvin had been arrested and charged.

The city's mayor has previously said that if Mr Floyd was white, he would still be alive.

Witnesses have disputed the Minneapolis Police Department's claims that 46-year-old Mr Floyd - who was unarmed - was resisting arrest.

It is not yet clear what, if any, action will be taken against the three other officers - Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng.

New footage which emerged today appears to show three officers kneeling on Mr Floyd.

Tragically he died in hospital a short time after the footage was taken.

Mike Freeman, Hennepin County attorney, told a news briefing: "He is in custody and has been charged with murder.

"We have evidence, we have the citizen's video, the horrible, horrific, terrible thing we've seen over and over again."

In a statement today former President Barack Obama called for the incident to be fully investigated. 

He wrote: "It can't be 'normal.' If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better."

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Mr Floyd's death has sparked outrage around the world, and his brother Philonise Floyd has branded it an "execution". 

He told  CNN  's New Day: "These guys need to be arrested, convicted of murder, and given the death penalty. 

"They need to. They took my brother's life."

Shocking footage showed Mr Floyd repeatedly moaning and gasping while he pleaded to the officer kneeling on his neck, saying: "Please, I can't breathe."

After several minutes, he gradually went quiet and ceased to move.

Yesterday the city's mayor said the victim was "killed because he is black". 

Jacob Frey said: "I'm not a prosecutor, but let me be clear, the arresting officer killed someone. 

"As to the precise charge, I'm not going to get into that." 

The mayor then went on to say "he'd be alive today if he were white."   

"The facts that I've seen, which are minimal, certainly lead me down the path that race was involved," he said.

It is not yet clear whether the other three will face criminal proceedings.

The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, the union representing the city's police force, said in a statement the officers involved were cooperating with investigators and it was "not time to rush to judgment."

"We must review all video. We must wait for the medical examiner's report," the union said, asking the community to remain calm.