Three people have been arrested over an alleged plot to use stolen firearms to harm police officers in Baton Rouge - just days after a black man was shot dead by cops.
A 13-year-old was among those held following a burglary at a pawn shop in the Louisiana town.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie said one suspect, who was carrying a firearm and a BB gun, was arrested at the scene and later told police the guns were meant to be used against police.
"We took this as a very viable threat," Dabadie said.
Police said they believe a fourth suspect remains on the loose.
Six of the eight handguns that were stolen have since been recovered, Dabadie said.
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested over the weekend protesting the police killings of 37-year-old Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and 32-year-old Philando Castile in near St. Paul, Minnesota.
Alton Sterling
The two shootings were the most recent high-profile police killings of black men to fuel protests across the country against police violence over the past two years.
Philando Castile
Dabadie said that he had no evidence that the suspects in the alleged plot mentioned any connection to the shooting of Sterling or the ensuing protests.
Philando Castile was fatally shot in his car
It came as the family of Alton Sterling pleaded for peace after five officers were murdered in Dallas.
Quinyetta McMillon, the mum of Sterling’s eldest son, said no matter how angry people are, “responding to violence with violence” could not justified.
Quinyetta added: “We wholeheartedly reject the reprehensible acts of violence perpetrated against members of the Dallas police department.
“Our hearts break for the families of the officers who were lost as they protected protesters and residents at a rally.
“Regardless of how angry or upset people may be, resorting to this kind of sickening violence should never happen and simply cannot be tolerated.
“Members of law enforcement have a very difficult job and the vast majority conduct themselves honourably.”
She added: “We maintain that officers who violate the public trust and their training should be held accountable through our country’s justice system. Responding to violence with violence is not the answer.”
A 13-year-old was among those held following a burglary at a pawn shop in the Louisiana town.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie said one suspect, who was carrying a firearm and a BB gun, was arrested at the scene and later told police the guns were meant to be used against police.
"We took this as a very viable threat," Dabadie said.
Police said they believe a fourth suspect remains on the loose.
Six of the eight handguns that were stolen have since been recovered, Dabadie said.
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested over the weekend protesting the police killings of 37-year-old Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and 32-year-old Philando Castile in near St. Paul, Minnesota.
Alton Sterling
The two shootings were the most recent high-profile police killings of black men to fuel protests across the country against police violence over the past two years.
Philando Castile
Dabadie said that he had no evidence that the suspects in the alleged plot mentioned any connection to the shooting of Sterling or the ensuing protests.
Philando Castile was fatally shot in his car
It came as the family of Alton Sterling pleaded for peace after five officers were murdered in Dallas.
Quinyetta McMillon, the mum of Sterling’s eldest son, said no matter how angry people are, “responding to violence with violence” could not justified.
Quinyetta added: “We wholeheartedly reject the reprehensible acts of violence perpetrated against members of the Dallas police department.
“Our hearts break for the families of the officers who were lost as they protected protesters and residents at a rally.
“Regardless of how angry or upset people may be, resorting to this kind of sickening violence should never happen and simply cannot be tolerated.
“Members of law enforcement have a very difficult job and the vast majority conduct themselves honourably.”
She added: “We maintain that officers who violate the public trust and their training should be held accountable through our country’s justice system. Responding to violence with violence is not the answer.”
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