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Thousands bid farewell to murdered NY cop

New York police officers have turned out in force to farewell Wenjian Liu, who was shot in the head along with his partner as they sat in their patrol car.

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Some police officers turn their backs as Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Thousands of police from across the US have gathered in New York to farewell a murdered officer while a small number used the funeral to protest against mayor Bill de Blasio once again.

A sea of blue uniformed officers lined the streets outside a Brooklyn funeral home on Sunday to honour Wenjian Liu, 32, shot in the head with partner Rafael Ramos, 40, on December 20 as the pair sat in their patrol car.

The brutal double murder at the hands of a black gunman claiming to be avenging the deaths of African-Americans during confrontations with police shocked the nation's largest city.

The build up to Liu's funeral had been dominated by speculation over whether officers would repeat their protest at Ramos's service last week, when hundreds turned their back on de Blasio.

On Sunday, most police outside the Aievoli Funeral Home respected a call from NY Police Commissioner Bill Bratton not to protest. But photos showed dozens of officers again turning away from a giant screen that showed de Blasio addressing mourners.

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"All of our city is heartbroken today," de Blasio said, paying tribute to Liu's "courage, sacrifice and kindness".

Lui's young widow Pei Xia Chen, who married Liu just months earlier, said she had lost her soul mate and a wonderful husband.

Liu and Ramos were shot dead by Ismaaiyl Brinsley who also shot his ex-girlfriend on December 20 before carrying out the double murder.

Hours before, Brinsley boasted on Instagram that he intended to attack officers, and referenced two unarmed black men killed by police.

De Blasio has ridden a firestorm of criticism in the wake of the shootings from political opponents and police union members.


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