Missouri governor orders National Guard to city hit by racial unrest

Jay Nixon signed the order after violence flared during the second night of a curfew in Ferguson, which was imposed after unrest following the August 9 fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, by a police officer.

Police said shots were fired late Sunday at officers, Molotov cocktails were thrown and shops were looted.

Nixon said "an organised and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state," were engaging in "violent criminal acts" that were endangering Ferguson residents and businesses.

"I join the people of Ferguson and all Missourians in strongly condemning this criminal activity that included firing upon law enforcement officers, shooting a civilian, throwing Molotov cocktails, looting, and a coordinated attempt to block roads and overrun the Unified Command Center," the governor said.

He said he called up soldiers in the state who serve as the reserve forces of the US military "given these deliberate, coordinated and intensifying violent attacks on lives and property" so peace and order could be restored.

DPA