Ferguson: Katie Hopkins says Michael Brown Shooter Darren Wilson 'Deserves a Medal'

Katie Hopkins has said Darren Wilson should be given a medal for shooting dead Michael Brown in Ferguson.

As rioting continues to take place in the Missouri town, where Brown was shot in August, controversial columnist Hopkins has shared her opinion on Twitter.

Defending Wilson, who was aquitted by a Grand Jury earlier this week, she said: "Brown was not shot for being black. Brown was shot for being a thief and a thug.

"Give the officer a medal. Justice with knobs on."

Following Wilson's acquittal this week, Brown's family released a statement saying: "We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions.

Brown was shot by Wilson, 28, after the officer had asked the teenager and his friend to walk on the pavement.

The pair tried to flee after a struggle with police and Wilson fired at Brown six times, killing him.

Brown's death in August sparked weeks of street protests and criticism based on accusations of aggressive military-style tactics used by police on members of the the community.

Many in Ferguson's predominantly African-American community called for the officer to be charged with murder and were outraged when he recently gave an NBC interview saying he has a "clean conscience".

Lawyers for Brown's family denounced the Grand Jury's decision as "unfair" but condemned the violence that has followed the trial.

Speaking on Tuesday, President Barack Obama said there was "no excuse" for destructive behaviour and criminal acts of rioting.