EU foreign policy chief appalled by Floyd's death

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Tuesday the bloc was “shocked and appalled” by the death of George Floyd in the US.

Floyd, a handcuffed black man, died last week after he was pinned to the pavement by a white police officer in Minneapolis who put his knee on his neck.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, Borrell said Floyd's death had been the result of an abuse of power.

Those tasked with maintaining law and order should not be "using their capacities in the way that has been used in this very, very unhappy death of George Floyd. This is an abuse of power and this has to be denounced," Borrell said.

"All lives matter," Borrell said. "Black lives also matter."

He underlined that Europeans supported the right to peaceful protest, and condemned "violence and racism of any kind".

On behalf of the EU, Borrell called for a de-escalation of tension in the United States, and said the bloc trusted "in the ability of the Americans to come together, to heal as a nation and to address these important issues during these difficult times".