At least three policemen are feared dead after an attack in the Louisiana capital of Baton Rouge.
The city had recently been in the news following the death of Alton Sterling at the hands of police. In the week following his death, an attack on police killed five officers in Dallas, Texas.
A smaller scale but just as worrying incident appears to be unfolding in Louisiana, and CNN are reporting that three officers are feared dead and the scene ‘still active’. ABC have reported that the shooting is taking place in the Old Hammon area of the city.
A man dressed in black with his face covered began shooting when he emerged from between a convenience store and car wash across from Hammond Air Plaza, an eye-witness told WBRZ-TV.
These deaths are not confirmed, though Mayor Kip Holden has said he believes that three officers have been killed.
A SWAT team has been spotted heading towards the scene.
State Police SWAT now on scene pic.twitter.com/r3Eni4aODL
— Michael Vinsanau (@MVinsanau) July 17, 2016
This is the latest incident to take place in Louisiana since Sterling, an African-American man, was shot dead by two white police officers in the same city.
Sterling’s death was caught on camera and shared widely across social media, sparking outrage and protests around the country and the world.
This latest shooting comes just one day after friends, family and activists gathered in the city to pay their respects to Sterling. Rev Jesse Jackson, Rev Al Sharpton and US President Barack Obama were among those in attendance.
