US presidential candidate, Donald Trump, cancelled a rally in Chicago after it degenerated into chaos when rowdy shouting matches broke out between the flamboyant billionaire’s supporters and opponents.
Hundreds of protesters had gathered at the venue at the University of Illinois at Chicago hours before Mr Trump was due.
Backers of the Republican front runner and protesters inflamed by his candidacy later shoved and punched each other at the University of Illinois in Chicago where the rally had been scheduled to take place on Friday.
The announcement that Trump would postpone the rally prompted some of the crowd inside the Chicago Pavilion to break out into cheers of, “We stopped Trump!”
But, in boisterous scenes, supporters of the candidate chanted back: “We want Trump! We want Trump!”
The clashes began more than an hour before the event was due to start, and continued after it was cancelled, minutes after Mr Trump was to have appeared.
There were also isolated clashes outside the venue, according to media reports.
The full statement from Trump’s campaign read: “Mr Trump just arrived in Chicago and after meeting with law enforcement has determined that for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight’s rally will be postponed to another date.
“Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace.”
However, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department told the Associated Press news agency that it had not recommended Trump take such a step.
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