A US police officer has been charged with the murder of George Floyd following widespread protests over his death.

George Floyd died in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck for at least eight minutes during his arrest for allegedly using a fake $20 note in a shop.

Chauvin, one of four officers sacked following Mr Floyd's death, has now been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, prosecutors said.

Mike Freeman, the Hennepin county attorney, said further charges might follow as his office continued to investigate Floyd’s death on Monday. He said the case against Mr Chauvin was the fastest his office had ever prosecuted involving a police officer.

“I am not insensitive to what’s happened in the streets. My own home has been picketed regularly,” Mr Freeman said at a press conference announcing the charges. “My job is to [prosecute] only when we have sufficient evidence. We have it today.”

The announcement came after protests and rioting spread across America following video footage of Floyd’s arrest that showed Mr Chauvin kneeling on his neck for almost eight minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed.