Baltimore cleans up, mayor scrambles after riot over police-custody death

A Baltimore city firefighter walks past smoke, which was lit red from nearby fire engines, while battling a blaze at a residence in west Baltimore April 28, 2015. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Baltimore residents on Tuesday began to clear the wreckage of rioting and fires that erupted after the funeral of a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody, while the city's mayor defended local law enforcement's light initial response.

Acrid smoke hung over streets where violence broke out just blocks from Freddie Gray's funeral and spread through much of the poor West Baltimore neighbourhood. Nineteen buildings and 144 vehicles were set on fire, and 202 people were arrested, according to the mayor's office.