State of emergency in Baltimore

UPDATE: Firefighters are battling a three-alarm blaze that engulfed the construction site for a new community center in east Baltimore. Though the fire broke out on the other side of the city from where most of the rioting has happened tonight, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said it was related to the unrest over Freddie Gray’s death in police custody.

UPDATE (8:45 p.m. EDT): Violence and destruction continues in Baltimore tonight, with 15 police officers injured, businesses looted, and vehicles torched. Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard to help police the city. About two dozen people have been arrested so far. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake imposed a curfew beginning Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

OUR EARLIER STORY (7:05 p.m. EDT): After a week of mostly peaceful demonstrations, violence broke out in Baltimore following the funeral of Freddie Gray who died April 19 from injuries he received in police custody.

Rioters looted and vandalized stores and attacked police officers with rocks and bricks. At least seven officers were injured, one critically.

The clashes started at Mondawmin Mall, The Baltimore Sun reported, after a flier circulated among high school students and others urging them to act out. The call to violence referenced The Purge, a movie about a time in the future when all laws are suspended. Many businesses in the area closed early today after learning of the possible danger.

Police also received a credible threat that violent gangs planned to work together to take down officers. A minister with the Nation of Islam claims to have brokered a truce between the Baltimore Bloods and Crips gangs after Gray’s death.

Gov. Larry Hogan placed the Maryland National Guard on alert to help police Baltimore if needed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.