The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is restricting airspace over Ferguson, Mo., as law enforcement officials deal with the fallout from the fatal shooting of a black teenager by a police officer.
The agency said it is restricting flights over the suburb of St. Louis “to provide a safe environment for law enforcement activities.”
The FAA said its prohibition on flights over the town would be enforced until Monday.
Protests have been raging in Ferguson over the fatal shooting over the weekend of Michael Brown, 18, by an officer with the city’s police department.
Brown was unarmed at the time of the attack. There are conflicting accounts from the police department and eyewitnesses about whether he physically assaulted the officer who shot him.
The shooting has put the national spotlight on Ferguson, a small, predominantly black suburb of St. Louis. Police on Monday used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds after a protest gave way to looting and violence.
Ferguson officials said shots were fired at police helicopters in the area during protests, according to local media reports.
Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Monday that he was launching a federal probe that could lead to civil rights charges.
The FAA’s notice about the airspace can be read here.
— Rebecca Shabad contributed to this report.
— This story was updated at 4:42 p.m.