DHAKA: More than 1,000 protesters have marched in Baltimore over the death of a black man in police custody a week ago.

A minority of protesters smashed police car windows and at least a dozen were arrested, after disturbances that led police to delay spectators’ departure from a baseball game.

Freddie Gray was arrested by police on 12 April and then suffered spinal injuries leading to death a week later, reports the BBC.

His twin sister, Fredricka Gray, appealed for calm.

As clashes began on Saturday evening, she said: “My family wants to say, can you all please, please stop the violence?”

“Freddie Gray would not want this.”

Six police officers have been suspended following the death and an internal police investigation is under way.

Gray, who was 25, is the latest of a series of black Americans to die in police custody in recent months, triggering angry protests accusing the police of brutality.

Baltimore has seen daily protests since his death on Sunday but Saturday's was expected to be the largest so far.

BDST: 1120 HRS, APR 26, 2015
BD/