A tanker truck made its way by force on Sunday evening between a procession of thousands of demonstrators on a bridge in central Minneapolis, Minnesota, which required the intervention of a large number of police.
The local police said in a statement that no injuries were likely recorded among the protesters, describing what happened as a "very disturbing" incident.
The truck driver was wounded, but his life is not in danger, he was taken to a hospital and then arrested.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walls said at a press conference that the driver would face criminal prosecution. He added, "Until this hour, we do not know his motives," given that the situation could have been dramatic.
He added that the truck "appeared to contain a flammable or toxic substance", describing the absence of a tragedy or a death toll as "unbelievable."
The demonstration, in protest of the death of George Floyd in the hands of the police, was launched from the Capitol in St. Louis, where the Minnesota Parliament is based. The demonstration, which included about two thousand people, proceeded in a peaceful atmosphere towards the center of Minneapolis.
Along the way, the police and members of the National Guard blocked the surrounding roads to secure the convoy.
It was not clear at first how the truck driver could approach the protesters. State security official John Harrington said that an investigation will determine how the truck got there.
As the protesters crossed a bridge on a highway, the man drove his truck toward the crowd. A witness told the local KSTB channel that protesters threw their bikes under his truck in an attempt to stop him.
"He looked upset, released his truck horns and kept moving forward," the witness added.