A CNN crew was arrested on live TV by a riot squad while covering the protests over the police death of George Floyd.

Incredible footage shows armed officers from the Minnesota State Patrol handcuffing reporter Omar Jimenez after he calmly asked the officers where he should stand.

The black reporter had just shown a protester being arrested when about half a dozen white police officers surrounded him.

His white colleague, reporter Josh Campbell, was covering the same protest and said he was treated well by police and not arrested.

Mr Jimenez was detained with his producer and camera operator as fires burned around them in a scene of carnage in Minneapolis.

A police officer took the camera and it was still rolling as it was placed on the ground.

Viewers and CNN colleagues swiftly condemned the arrests, with Minnesota state Senator tweeting: “Why are you arresting @CNN reporters. They were moving back and asking where do you want us to move. I was watching live on the air. They were cooperating.”

She then said she was on the phone with the Department of Public Safety to find out why the crew was detained.

CNN said its legal department was looking into the arrests which came at 5.30am local time on Friday after a third night of clashes between police and protesters, arson, looting and vandalism.

Mr Jimenez calmly identified himself as a journalist and asked the officers where his crew should stand to continue covering the scene.

The journalist showed his press credentials to the officers.

The Minnesota State Patrol claims the crew members were arrested because they were told to move and didn’t.

The CNN crew members were led away in handcuffs.

The black reporter had just shown a protester being arrested when about half a dozen white police officers surrounded him.

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

He added: “We’re getting out of your way.”

Journalists rushed to Mr Jimenez’s defence.

CNN presenter Hala Gorani tweeted: “Our reporter @OmarJimenez was just arrested live on #CNN while covering protests in Minneapolis. He identified himself as a journalist and asked where he and his crew should stand to continue working.”

Viewers hit out at the fact that Mr Jimenez was arrested as he covered the protests, but the four Minneapolis Police Department officers involved in the arrest that led to Mr Floyd’s arrest have not.

One wrote on Twitter : “CNN’s @joshscampbell is a white reporter, reporting from the Minneapolis riots. He was left alone by the police.

“CNN’s @OmarJimenez is a black reporter, reporting from the Minneapolis riots. He was just arrested.

“F*** this s***. #BlackLivesMatter #MinneapolisRiot.”

Hours before his arrest, Mr Jimenez tweeted: “The images out of Minneapolis right now are unbelievable. Thousands in the streets, a police precinct on fire, fireworks being fired into those flames.

“All while we wait on whether charges will be filed against the officers involved in the death of George Floyd.”

His arrest came around the same time CBS News jornalist Jeff Pegues claimed National Guard troops were “firing tear gas at media”.138208672551

State Patrol officers and National Guard troops were brought in by state Governor Tim Walz to help to restore order in the city, which is policed by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).

Four members of MPD were fired for their involvement in Mr Floyd’s arrest.

The FBI is leading the investigation and none of the officers has been charged.