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Sunday, September 17, 2017 4:45am ET by  

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Ed Sheeran and U2 cancel St Louis gigs amid security concerns

Both Ed Sheeran and U2 have decided to cancel scheduled sold-out concerts at St Louis after city-wide protests initiated by the acquital of a white former officer was charged with murdering a black man.

U2 were due to play last night (September 16) at The Dome in the America Centre and Ed Sheeran was due to play tonight (September 17) at the Scottrade Centre.

Since Friday (September 15) there have been widespread protests in the downtown section of St Louis with at least 32 arrests. This morning videos emerged of a white haired woman being trampled on by police after being knocked down by them.

Teargas was used as the protests were seen as an 'unlawful assembly' by the police.

St Louis police could not offer U2 nor Ed Sheeran the usual concert security levels, as they needed their force to handle the protests.

Jason Stockley was a police officer in 2011 when he shot and killed 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. Stockley was acquitted of first degree murder on Friday (September 15).

U2's Bono uploaded the following statement on U2's Instagram with an illustration saying he was:

"deeply saddened at what has happened in St. Louis and having to cancel our show tonight...I found myself reading Dr. King's speech from the National Cathedral and asking myself is this 1968 or 2017?" - Bono

Bono highlighted '1968' and '2017' in deep red.

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