Violence has erupted in Ferguson, the small town in Missouri where unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was shot dead by a white police officer.
The town, with a population of just over 21,000 residents, was set alight amid violent protests after a Grand Jury announced that officer Darren Wilson would not face prosecution.
Pictures show flames engulfing stores, car lots burning and scores of vehicles set on fire early on Tuesday morning, with gunfire reportedly kept firefighters at bay.
The violence came despite pleas for peace from Brown's family and President Barack Obama.
Ferguson Erupts
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Firefighters attempt to put out a burning building during riots after grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer Darren Wilson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A police car is set ablaze during clashes with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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Police confront protestors after rioting broke out following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Police gather on the street. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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car drives by a burning building during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A police car is set on fire after a group of protesters vandalise the vehicle. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Police officers walk by a burning police car during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A man walks past a burning police vehicle during clashes between police and protesters over the decision in the shooting death 18-year-old Michael Brown. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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.A row of cars burn at a used car lot during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A photographer runs by a burning building during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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Protesters run for shelter as smoke fills the streets (credit:AP)
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Police officers watch the neighborhood as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A grand jury has decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18-year-old whose fatal shooting sparked sometimes violent protests. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Ferguson Market and Liquor store is vandalized after the announcement of the grand jury decision Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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A protester walks out of a store with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A protester squirts lighter fluid on a police car as the car windows are shuttered. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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An armed police officer guards the area after a group of protesters vandalise a police cruiser. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Police arrive at the scene of fire Monday. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Police guard the area as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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People run as they come out a gas station with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Smoke fills the streets as some buildings are on fire after. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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A man steps out of a vandalised store. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Ferguson Market and Liquor store is vandalised. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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A man runs from a police car that is set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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A protester walks out of a store with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A police officer takes cover. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Police officers watch the neighborhood as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Police officers guard as protesters react to the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A group of protesters vandalise a police vehicle after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A protestor runs in front of a burning business during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protesters over decision in the shooting death 18-year-old Michael Brown. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protester. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A police vehicle is vandalised and set on fire. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protesters. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Demonstrators celebrate as a business burns after it was set on fire during rioting following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Police stand guard during rioting on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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A police officer stands guard during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown, wearing sunglasses, reacts as she listens to the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Looters run out of a business during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Police stand guard near shops during rioting in Ferguson. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Police clash with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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Protesters attack a police car during clashes. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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Police officers in armored vehicles stand guard in front of the Ferguson police department during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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Police confront protestors after rioting broke out. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Lesley McSpadden (L), mother of Michael Brown, reacts to the decision by the Grand Jury not to indict Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of her son, in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Smoke fills the streets as some buildings are on fire (credit:AP)
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A protester squirts lighter fluid on a police car as the car windows are shuttered near the Ferguson Police Department (credit:AP)
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People gather around the burning stores (credit:AP)
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People walk away from a storage facility on fire (credit:AP)
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Cars burn at a dealership Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo. (credit:AP)
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A protestor stands in front of a burning car. (credit:AP)
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Cars burn at a dealership Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Police arrive at a business Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo., as cars in a parking lot next to the building burn. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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People stand in front of one of many burning buildings after the riot erupted when the Grand Jury announced they will not indict white Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of black 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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People stand in front of one of many burning buildings after the riot erupted when the Grand Jury announced they will not indict white Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of black 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Riot police run past a burning St. Louis County police car as hundreds of protesters gather . (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Protesters ride around after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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People walk out of a gas station with goods as police arrive. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Police officers grab a protester after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Police in riot gear move down the street past a burning police car. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage to a strip mall. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)