Live reporting
Details about the victims emerge
.@LouisianaGov here for news conference.
Louisiana State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson gave some details about the police officers who were killed. He said two were Baton Rouge police officers and one was an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy. Mr Edmonson said all three were married and had family.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie described his officers:
- 41 years old with less than one year of service
- 32 years old with 10 years of service
The motive for the attack is unclear but some conservatives believe President Barack Obama, who is due to speak shortly, must do more to support the police.
Earlier, the president released a statement condemning the shooting as “the work of cowards”.
The POTUS must come out immediately and condemn these police shootings. We cannot have anarchy and breakdown of the Rule Of Law!
Society incl #POTUS must rise up right now to condemn these obscene cowardly attacks on cops. Civilization is at stake if cops are targeted.
So will the white house finally be lit blue now?#BlueLivesMatter #BatonRouge
BREAKING Police: No longer an ‘active shooting’ situation
Louisiana State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson said the gunman who shot the officers has been killed and the situation is no longer “active”.
Reports earlier had suggested there was more than one gunman.
Mr Edmonson said the officers were responding to a report of a man carrying a rifle along a major motorway. He said the gunman was dressed all in black.
Categories: America, The Muslim Times, USA
By Tom Geoghegan and Tim Swift