As it happened: Violence after Ferguson jury ruling

Oakland, California also saw demonstrations, with protesters blocking traffic.

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Politico magazine's Todd S Purdum looks at the tension between peaceful and violent forms of protest in America's long fight for racial equality.

"Demonstrations - even those that turned violent - have generally advanced the legislative and political cause of civil rights, while riots have more typically resulted in a backlash that retarded it," he writes.

The protests began peacefully but turned violent. Listen to the BBC's Aleem Maqbool tell the story of the night.

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It will soon be daybreak in Ferguson. Many of the streets that saw the worst unrest have been cleared.

Emily Rau, a reporter for the local KMOV network, tweets: All is calm at the moment.

Jim Dalrymple II, a Buzzfeed reporter at the scene, says the smell of smoke - from buildings set alight by rioters - was hanging in the air long after the crowds had left.

This map shows the streets that saw the worst violence in Ferguson last night, as well as key locations from the shooting of Michael Brown in August.

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C.W. from Nova Scotia in Canada emails: I understand why people are angry but the grand jury made a decision based on all the facts presented to them. Looting and burning the shops -- owned and staffed by people trying to make a living, many of whom are immigrants trying to make a better life. It won't bring this young man back or bring closure to the family or justice to anyone. This further divides a community already in turmoil. Look at what you are doing to yourselves.

Social media users have drawn similarities with one demonstrator in Ferguson and the iconic "tank man" image from the Tiananmen Square protests. You can see one of the photos below and the two side-by-side here.

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Deray McKeeson in Ferguson tweets: Do I condone violence/looting/etc? No. Many have remained peaceful. I understand their anger but do not condone their actions.

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on events with our gallery, showing some of the dramatic pictures from the night.

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Laura Hettiger, a reporter for local news network, KMOV, tweets about a meeting with a worker at Little Caesars restaurant, which was set alight in the unrest: Just talked to @littlecaesars worker. He says @GovJayNixon promised this wouldn't happen. Now worker & his daughter are out of jobs

There have been demonstrations in cities across the US after the verdict. This was the scene in Los Angeles.

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Many campaigners are disappointed by the jury's decision. However, further inquiries - sparked by the shooting of Michael Brown - are in the pipeline.

Sherrilyn Ifill, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) Legal Defence and Educational Fund told BBC World of two other investigations.

"One [is] an investigation into whether federal civil rights charges can be brought against Officer Wilson," she says.

The other is into the practice of the Ferguson Police Department. She says the second inquiry will examine whether the department "engaged into what we call a pattern and practice of racial discrimination in policing over the course of several years."

tweets: Fire engines return to command centre after a v busy evening. A dozen buildings burning, police say.

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CNN has been considering what will happen now to Officer Darren Wilson. He has reportedly been negotiating his resignation from the force. One of CNN's legal experts, Mark O'Mara, said it would be "senseless" for him to go back to Ferguson - or indeed to "law enforcement".

Another CNN legal expert pointed out that Officer Wilson could stay in the job if he chose to - because of his rights under the law.

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool had to move swiftly when police fired tear gas at protesters in Ferguson. He describes the moment in this short video on the BBC News website.

Matt in Ferguson tweets: What happens when police are not prepared or "militarized" as some suggested. My town was burned to the ground.

tweets with the image below: Bricks thrown at police, 2 police cars burned, gun seized by police. Tonight was disappointing.

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Mytrice A. Marcano in Ferguson tweets: I can't turn the tv off; can't sleep. Nerves are on edge. It's hard living in the middle of this. Get it together

Here is more detail on the night's rioting from St Louis police chief Jon Belmar.

"The good news is we've not fired a shot, as far as I know we don't have any serious injuries to police officers that got banged up a little bit with rocks," he says.

"One lieutenant from the patrol got hit in the head with a glass bottle but we don't have any serious injuries. As far as I know we haven't caused any serious injuries tonight. We did deploy tear gas."

tweets about what the coverage of Ferguson on Twitter says about the US: "The simultaneity of Twitter tonight has been unreal... starting from the moment President Obama was delivering remarks as gas hit the streets. Everything has been split-screen from there... Which is, actually, a metaphor for the American condition, but I'll spare you the speech."

Unrest was also reported in other parts of Missouri. Here, cars burn at a dealership in the city of Dellwood, near Ferguson.

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tweets: "Change is created through our voice, not the destruction of our community" - Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson

Away from Ferguson, demonstrators have also taken to the streets in other US cities, seeing the Michael Brown case as a symbol of deeper injustice and racial inequality. Here, a protester in Seattle, Washington, is struck by pepper spray from the police.

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@DrBrittany tweets: More cops than I even knew we had in #Oakland just all went by my place at once. #Ferguson

The grand jury report, released a few hours ago, includes descriptions from Officer Darren Wilson of the scuffle that led to the shooting of Michael Brown. He compared Brown to Hulk Hogan - the famous US wrestler.

"And when I grabbed him, the only way I can describe it is I felt like a five-year-old holding onto Hulk Hogan," he said.

"That's just how big he felt and how small I felt just from grasping his arm."

You can explore the documents at the St Louis Public Radio site.

More details about the night's unrest from St Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar.

Around 150 gunshots were reported overnight, but police say they did not fire any shots. Around a dozen businesses were set alight, and 29 arrests were made, he says. At least two police cars were set on fire.

You can watch the ongoing police news conference live via the stream on this page.

At a news conference in Ferguson, St Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar says: 'We were hoping for a peaceful protest."

However, he says "the officers started taking rocks and batteries" as soon as the grand jury's decision was announced.

The National Guard has been deployed in Ferguson, alongside police - reports now say Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has ordered additional guardsmen in to support police operations.

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Witnesses say the night's violence in Ferguson is more destructive than the unrest that followed the shooting of Michael Brown in August. The Associated Press news agency reports that firefighters had to turn back from one location scene because of gunfire.

tweets: Just had close shave. Three of us journalists attacked by gang. Poor reporter we were with punched and had wallet stolen. Only just got away

There have been many reports of looters taking advantage of the unrest to target shops in Ferguson.

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tweets: U. City officer was shot in the arm. He is expected to be okay. Shooting may not be related to #Ferguson unrest.

tweets with video: The moment protesters tried to flip a police car as I was filming - then came the tear gas

tweets: CNN reporter just hit with a rock during live shot.

A number of fires have been blazing in Ferguson. Here, firefighters stand in front of a burning restaurant.

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Lawyers for Darren Wilson say the officer followed his training and the law when he shot and killed Michael Brown in August, Reuters reports.

"We recognise that many people will want to second-guess the grand jury's decision. We would encourage anyone who wants to express an opinion do so in a respectful and peaceful manner," the lawyers said, in a statement.

tweets: We've seen so much more vandalism & looting tonight than any night in #Ferguson in August

At least one protester has also been detained in New York's Times Square.

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tweets: Steady stream of fire engines, police cars and helicopters above, departing and arriving at command centre as violence worsens #Ferguson

tweets: "All they had to do was give us justice," guy in a bandana says. "I feel like a pitchfork been stuck in my stomach and twisted" #Ferguson

Another suspected looter was carried away by police outside the local dollar store in Ferguson.

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Acts of looting have been reported across Ferguson. Here, a looter was caught in the act as he was leaving a burning Walgreens store.

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tweets: @stlcountypd reports #UCity Police Office[r] shot at Canton & Lamb. Condition unknown. Searching for suspect. #Ferguson

Dozens of protesters have now blocked a road junction in Oakland, California, with some lying on the ground while others outlined their bodies in chalk, AP reports.

Officer Wilson has penned a letter of thanks to his supporters, KSDK News reports. "Your support and dedication is amazing and it is still hard to believe that all of these people that I have never met are doing so much for me," he writes.

The authorities have released more than 1,000 pages of grand jury documents that include Officer Wilson's testimony describing his encounter with Michael Brown. In it, he told jurors that he was concerned the 18-year-old would punch him for a second time and could "knock me out or worse".

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across the US in protest against the grand jury's decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson. Several protesters blocked a major road junction in Los Angeles.

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Heavy gunfire reported by police officers in one area of Ferguson, says St Louis County Police

Another photo released by the St Louis County Prosecutor's office shows an injury sustained by officer Darren Wilson during the altercation with Michael Brown.

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tweets: I'm very glad I bought a bullet-proof jacket. Thought it might be over the top. Streets of #Ferguson right now as dangerous as some warzones

In his statement, Prosecutor McCulloch recounted some of the key moments from the August shooting. He said that less than 90 seconds passed between Officer Wilson's first contact with Michael Brown and his companion and the arrival of a back-up police car, which came just seconds after the final shot.

St Louis airport says the no-fly order has not closed the airport and departures are proceeding as normal. However, several flights arriving at St Louis have been diverted.

A Vine from a local news reporter shows purported looting at a Walgreens - but no-one seems to be a big hurry. Another is more clearly looting from a Dollar Store

The protests in Times Square, New York, continue.

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The FAA has put a no-fly order over Ferguson "to provide a safe environment for law enforcement activities"

St Louis County Police walk back earlier assertion tear gas was not used. They tweet: At appx 9:15p, tear gas was used on S. Florissant after smoke was unsuccessful in dispersing violent crowd. Smoke was used FIRST #Ferguson

St Louis Public Radio is publishing the grand jury report as fast as they can upload it

CBS News tweets photos of Darren Wilson's injuries after the shooting, shown to the grand jury

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Several buildings in Ferguson have been broken into and looted, while a pharmacy and a pizza shop are reportedly on fire.

You can see the moment prosecutor Bob McCulloch read out the crucial part of the decision.

Movie star Michelle Rodriguez tweets: Protestors please remember that you cant act like animals and expect to be treated like civilized citizens learn from 1992 Rodney King riots

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Police form a line under a holiday banner in Ferguson

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool was describing what he's seeing on the streets of Ferguson when he had to run from tear gas being fired nearby. You can hear his report here.

A crowd of nearly 50 have been chanting outside the White House, and have held a moment of silence.

St Louis councilmember Antonio French tweets: Lots of stores broken into at N. Florissant and Hereford, including Walgreens, Aaron's, and now US Bank. No police on the scene.

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"This isn't something that's going to go away for a long time, because people just can't go back into their houses and put it on the back burner. It's got to be change." - says Kevin Jones, at the edge of protests, on South Florissant St.

US Attorney General Eric Holder: "It does not honour his [Brown's] memory to engage in violence or looting. In the coming days, it will likewise be important for local law enforcement authorities to respect the rights of demonstrators, and deescalate tensions by avoiding excessive displays - and uses - of force."

tweets: #Ferguson demonstrators say they were helping a woman having a heart attack, police told them to drop her and then fired at them

Reporting live from just north of the Ferguson police station, BBC's Aleem Maqbool says that something appeared to startle the crowd gathered to his south. He says that a tear gas canister landed right next to him, forcing him and fellow journalists covering the scene to pull away from what appears to be an advancing column of police armoured vehicles.

Demonstrators in Los Angeles show their support for Brown.

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St Louis Police Department tweets: Police are not deploying tear gas. They are using #smoke to break up unruly crowds. #Ferguson

Defence lawyers said Mr Wilson would like to "thank those who have stood by his side throughout the process".

"Moving forward, any commentary on this matter will be done in the appropriate venue and not through the media."

Statement in from Officer Darren Wilson's legal team: "Officer Wilson followed his training and followed the law."

tweets: Police telling people to get out of the street, to stop throwing rocks at police or subject to arrest.

Reporter Charlie LeDuff tweets: Just hit in head with a cannister

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Washingtonian writer Benjamin Freed tweets about protesters in Washington DC: Update: This crowd just got way bigger. At least 200 headed down 16th Street toward White House.

tweets: Tear gas at police HQ.

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A car is attacked in Ferguson.

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While the president speaks from the White House briefing room, appealing for calm, the anger is palpable on the streets of Ferguson and elsewhere.

We have made enormous progress in the past several decades in race relations, the president says, but problems remain. "Problems communities of colour are not making up."

We need to recognise Ferguson speaks to larger issues in the US, Mr Obama says, including distrust between police and communities of colour.

"I also appeal to law enforcement to show restraint" - Obama

Mr Obama says he joins Michael Brown's family in calling for calm protest and actions that lead to "positive change"

He appeals for protests to be peaceful.

President Barack Obama begins to speak.

Approximately 15 police cars just sped out of Target car park, lights & sirens blaring.

Protesters listen to the grand jury decision at the Ferguson Police Department.

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President Barack Obama will deliver a statement at 10:00 EST, in a few moments.

Riot police have formed outside the police station in Ferguson.

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Grand juries rarely choose not to indict when presented a case by a prosecutor, Ben Casselman at Five Thirty Eight writes, but slightly less so when it involves police officers.

New Yorker writer Philip Gourevich tweets: The endless confusion of witness testimonies this "prosecutor" is describing sounds like a compelling case for going to trial.

tweets: Barber shop we were in closed immediately after verdict. Partly because of possible violence, partly to go protest. #Fergsuon

Mr McCulloch says he is not allowed to say what the vote was and said his two assistant prosecutors presented five indictments to the grand jury to consider.

tweets: #Ferguson police now in full riot gear

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Broadcaster and academic Marc Lamont Hill tweets: Stood in front of Michael Brown's mom as she heard the verdict. Nothing more painful than seeing her face.

The testimony and evidence will be released, he says.

Mr McCulloch says Mr Wilson had "swelling" and "redness" on his face when seen at a hospital.

The family asks protests to be peaceful - "We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen."

Michael Brown's family says in statement: "We are profoundly disappointed that killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions".

Witnesses described a "tussle, wrestle or a tug-of-war", he says. Some said Brown punched the officer.

Wilson encountered Brown and "gave chase", and the fatal shots occurred as Brown moved towards Wilson, Mr McCulloch says.

Miami Dolphins' running back LaMichael James tweets: Ferguson ... This is unbelievable

Witness statements were compared for consistency with each other, and to the physical evidence, he says.

"An altercation took place" while Wilson was inside the vehicle, and Michael Brown standing outside, the prosecutor said.

He is now explaining the timeline of events before Michael Brown's death.

There is no question that Darren Wilson caused Michael Brown's death, but the inquiry does not stop there, Mr McCulloch says.

Mr McCulloch says most difficult part of the investigation was "24-hour news cycle" and speculation on social media.

Several witnesses subsequently adjusted their stories, says Mr McCulloch.

Some witness statements contradicted by the physical evidence, he says, such as those saying Brown was shot in the back.

St Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch now speaking, begins by extending sympathy to Brown family.

It's coming in two minutes now, we're told.

You can watch the announcement live here.

"[Unrest] isn't something to even worry about, it's something to expect. You can't be calm when you don't have a voice." - Roderick Griffith, barber on W Florissant

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Missouri's National Guard is present on streets of Ferguson.

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We are minutes away from hearing the grand jury decision now. All eyes are on the Justice Center in Clayton, Missouri.

As night fell in Ferguson, protesters adopted the "hands-up" gesture that has characterised the peaceful demonstrations ever since the shooting.

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ABC News social media editor Micah Grimes tweets: White man surrounded. #Ferguson crowd claim he's with KKK. Some are trying to get him out. "Keep the peace!

He later tweets: Police moved through tense crowd, extracted the man, moved back through and the situation has de-escalated.

Eli Rosenburg, a Kansas City, Missouri, local reporter, tweets: STOCKING UP: It really feels like those times right before a major snow storm inside this #Ferguson @Schnucks.

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In Chicago, demonstrators are using the #Chi2Ferguson hashtag to document the crowds growing outside the police headquarters.

And ABC News is reporting that the Los Angeles Police Department has been placed on "tactical alert".

A Tumblr called the Ferguson National Response Network lists rallies planned around the country, from Madison, Wisconsin, to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Bangor in Maine. The list includes Sanford, Florida, where black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot dead by neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman.

Writer Lauren Kirchner tweets: Couple hundred people walking east down the middle of 14th st in NYC, banging drums, stopping traffic... #Ferguson

Kansas City Star reporter Jason Hancock tweets: Amnesty international observers have arrived at #Ferguson police department.

In Philadelphia, protestors are starting to line up in front of City Hall with signs that say "Stop police terror, indict killer cops."

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David Botti, BBC News, Ferguson tweets: 41 degrees [Fahrenheit] on W Florissant, the cold winds have died down. All quiet. Couple helos above, and small groups walking

As well as in New York, there are protests planned in many US cities, among them Oakland, California, in Dallas, Texas, and in Baltimore, Maryland.

More footage - via Vine - of a protest beginning in New York City's Union Square

tweets: "Jesuit priests and a sister gather in #ferguson to 'show their solidarity with the black community'"

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But others believe the timing has more to do with consideration for commuters.

Another user, @pourmecoffee wrote "Not endorsing, but maybe so people who want to can leave work, be off roads, pick up kids, and in their homes"

Earlier today, the BBC was told as guidance to expect an announcement "after rush hour" which could indicate some consideration for those trying to get home.

There has been some criticism of the timing of releasing the decision later in the evening. As the night goes on and the wait for a decision grows longer, online speculation about ulterior motives has begun.

"They don't want violence yet to wait till dark when most violence happens...go figure," wrote @Gil_Laury

Miami Herald writer Joseph Goodman asked, "I wonder how much more overtime the cops make in St Louis for an announcement at night compared to during the day?"

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Sabrina Webb, Michael Brown's cousin tells the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan the family feels "overwhelmed" and "lots of anxiety".

"This is the justice system. This is America, it could go either way," she says, adding the family has had no hints about what the grand jury has decided.

The email from the prosecutor's office confirming the press conference is quite brief.

"The Grand Jury announcement concerning the Darren Wilson case will be at 8:00 P.M. this evening at the Justice Center, 100 S. Central, Clayton, Mo. All seats have been accounted for and no one else will be allowed in the building."

That's 0200 GMT.

tweets: Heard people on W. Florissant being concerned verdict announcement will come after dark - wish would wait till morning #Ferguson

tweets: Close to the #ferguson police station and protestors are keeping warm inside for the moment

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Writer and presenter Baratunde Thurston tweets: As we await the grand jury decision in #ferguson, i urge all law enforcement officials to remain calm

"If [Darren Wilson] is not indicted, I believe they will burn the city down," says Thomas Bradley, who works at a barber shop on W Florissant.

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tweets: At least 50 protestors in front of police station.. numbers building up. Chanting "Hands up, don't shoot". #Ferguson

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During his press conference, Missouri governor Jay Nixon said that mental health providers would be made available to provide counselling and support.

Earlier this week, after Nixon declared a state of emergency, the mayor of St Louis requested 400 National Guard troops to deploy to the city in the event of protests and unrest.

In response, St Louis council member Antonio French sent a letter to Mr Nixon requesting the deployment of 400 mental health counsellors to address the "unique and horrific combination of events and disruptions to normal life" in the St Louis area.

tweets: Family tells me #MikeBrown parents will be present when #GrandJuryDecision is announced. #Ferguson

Sonny Dayan, a business owner on West Florissant, a main road in Ferguson, has decided not to board its windows. He spoke to the BBC's David Botti.

"I'm happy because somehow they'll reach an agreement and we can move on - no matter what's the result. We can just move on with our life: kids can go back to school, businesses can open up normally, and be part of the community like we used to be before."

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Mr Slay adds "the world will be watching us" and says the St Louis area has "an opportunity to show the nation the ways in which a community can be more fair and more just for everyone. We must seize this opportunity together."

St Louis City Mayor Frances Slay says they will allow protesters to slow traffic but not allow serious injuries.

At the same press conference, St Louis County executive Charles Dooley said: "I do not want people in the community to think they have to board up their doors... This is not the time to turn on each other. It is time to turn to each other."

He notes thousands of protesters came to the area in October without any major problems.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is calling for people to show "tolerance, mutual respect and restraint" in the hours ahead, regardless of the grand jury decision.

Some protesters have already begun demonstrating in New York against what they say is police brutality, including the death of Eric Garner, who died after being placed in a chokehold by a New York City police officer.

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"I couldn't get away from what's going on... I grew up here"

Howard Barry put his anger over the death of Michael Brown into art. The BBC's Franz Strasser met him in a gallery in downtown St Louis, one of 18 locations where Ferguson related artworks are being shown.

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The grand jury decision will be announced at 20:00 local time (02:00 GMT), US media report.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will speak at a separate press conference in a few minutes.

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David Whitt, a Ferguson resident, has been instrumental in starting a "cop watch" program that trains citizens to lawfully monitor the police.

Now reports have emerged that Whitt has been arrested. Jacob Crawford, one of the founders of WeCopwatch, a national copwatch education group, posted via Facebook that Whitt was charged with "obstructing traffic" while cop watching earlier today.

His efforts to prepare for the grand jury decision were part of Franz Strasser's extensive feature on the subject.

tweets: Gorgeous sunset over #ferguson as we wait for the decision

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tweets: Everyone is tweeting and driving in #Ferguson. Only dangerous thing I've seen today.

Brown's mother and father visited the United Nations committee against Torture earlier this month in Geneva where they testified about their son's death

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tweets: Al Sharpton @TheRevAl press release suggests Gran Jury decision will be at 9pm EST, that's 8pm here. Still checking this. #Ferguson

Schools in the Ferguson-Florissant district will closed tomorrow due to expected protests, the school district says.

Still no official word on when the public announcement will be made, but there are a couple of other press conferences we can confirm.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will say a few words at 1730 local time (2330 GMT) and later the Reverend Al Sharpton, a broadcaster and civil rights activist, will speak from Harlem, New York, at 2115 local time (0215 GMT).

tweets: "Live for @BBCOne with @AleemMaqbool in #ferguson, local resident just drove by yelling at the media to go home"

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A woman visits a memorial set up at the site of Michael Brown's death in Ferguson earlier today.

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How did we get here? The BBC's David Botti looks at the anger, protests, blame and denials - but few answers - that have followed Michael Brown's death.

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Confused about why a decision has taken months? Our explainer describes what is a grand jury and how it make a decision on whether to bring charges.

tweets: "The boarding up begins on Central Ave, starting with the jewelry shop"

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Brown's death on 9 August sparked protests, sometimes violent, as family and supporters called for the officer who shot him, Darren Wilson, to be charged over his death.

We would love to hear your thoughts. Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk or tweet at @BBC_HaveYourSay

The grand jury's decision - expected later on Monday evening - comes after weeks of hearing evidence.

Welcome to our live page coverage of a grand jury decision on potential charges over the death of Michael Brown, a black teenager killed by a Missouri police officer in August.