Three dead in Charlottesville, Virginia after day of violence

The president immediately tweeted condolences over the deaths of two police officers, but remained silent over the murder of a counter-protester earlier in the day.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

13 August, 2017

The crash left 19 people injured and one dead [Anadolu]

A 20-year old man was arrested on Saturday on second-degree murder charges, having allegedly crashed his car into a group of protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.

James Alex Fields of Ohio's arrest was confirmed by the local jail superintendent and he is currently being held without bail for the murder of a 32-year old woman.

"I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here," tweeted Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer.

Nineteen people are being treated for serious wounds and five are said to be in a critical condition.

Fields was also charged with malicious wounding and hit and run charges.

A video of the incident went viral on social media after the event, showing a grey Dodge Challenger accelerate and crash into the crowd before reversing and escaping at speed.

Helicopter crash

Two people were confirmed killed on Saturday evening after a police helicopter crashed in the north west of the town.

Virginia state police confirmed that Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates were killed in the crash.

Twitter Post

President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences for the two officers minutes after the crash - but did not make any comment on the death of the 32-year old woman earlier in the day.

"Deepest condolences to the families & fellow officers of the VA State Police who died today," tweeted Trump.

Rioting broke out in the centre of the town after a group of white supremacists protested the removal of a statue to the pro-slavery Civil War general Robert E. Lee.

Counter protests broke out after videos emerged of the protesters making Nazi salutes and chanting racist slogans.