Image source, Reuters

From the Washington Post:, external

In many states, hate crime laws call for additional penalties for those convicted of crimes who targeted victims on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion. Targeting police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel now fall under Louisiana’s hate crime law.

“The men and women who put their lives on the line every day, often under very dangerous circumstances are true heroes and they deserve every protection that we can give them,” [Governor John Bel] Edwards, the son of a sheriff, said in a statement. “They serve and protect our communities and our families. The overarching message is that hate crimes will not be tolerated in Louisiana.”

Image source, Reuters

It's a very confused picture right now in Baton Rouge. Here's what we can confirm:

• three police officers are dead, three are injured
• one suspect has been killed, more possibly at large
• motive is unknown
• witnesses reported loud gunfire
• one said he saw a man dressed in black, military-style clothing
• tensions have been high in the city since the police shot dead a local black man, Alton Sterling
• but nothing yet to suggest a link to that or to protests that ensued

We've done a full round-up of the facts so far.

Image source, Twitter

In Dallas, where five police were killed recently, Mayor Mike Rawlings also made a statement: 

"Reports out of Baton Rouge this morning of three officers killed and others wounded are deeply disturbing. This must stop. Violence against our police officers under any circumstances is not acceptable and poses a grave threat to all of us. Those peacefully protesting police across the country must swiftly condemn this type of violence against law enforcement."

A huge security operation is under way in Cleveland, Ohio, on the eve of the four-day Republican National Convention. But some are questioning whether it's wise that it's legal, with the appropriate permit, to openly carry a weapon in the state of Ohio.

Police Cpl L'Jean Mckneely Jr confirmed three officers are dead and one suspect is dead, and appealed for more information.

In addition to the three officers killed, several others were wounded. Reuters news agency reports that one is in a critical condition while another is in a fair condition at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. A third officer is being treated at Baton Rouge General Hospital. His injuries are not said to be life-threatening. 

Four people - including a 12-year-old boy - were arrested late last week  after Baton Rouge Police said they broke into a pawn shop and sought to steal handguns in a plot to attack police.

The White House has been in contact with officials in Baton Rouge and has offered any assistance necessary, Reuters reports.

Image source, Reuters

The mayor of Baton Rouge, Kip Holden, tells a local TV station that the "rhetoric from some people" during and after the funeral of Alton Sterling may be connected to the shootings that left three officers dead.

Mr Sterling, who was 37, was a black man who was shot dead by two white police officers on 6 July.  

Demonstrations broke out in Baton Rouge and across the world after he and another black man, Philando Castile, were shot by police and videos of the aftermath were shared worldwide.

Mayor Holden said: "I'm not sure whether this is related to the protests but from some of the people who've spoken during the course of the funeral and the whole week, people are like they want to light fire on people and pour gasoline on it, I have to believe that some of that has been related to this. These minds have been overtaken by people. 

"Everything's been anti-police but the overwhelming percentage of people in Baton Rouge are not buying in to that rhetoric."

Image source, Reuters

The shooting happened near police headquarters and Airline Highway in Baton Rouge, the capital of the state of Louisiana.

Mobile phone footage from the scene showed police cars arriving at a road intersection. Several shots were then heard.

You can also follow a fuller round up of what we know so far here

The shootings in Baton Rogue come a week after five police officers were killed in Dallas, putting departments across the country on high alert. The Dallas gunman Micah Xavier Johnson told police before he was killed that he purposely targeted the officers. Johnson said he was angry about recent shootings of black men at the hands of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The motive in the latest Baton Rouge shooting is unclear.

A reporter in Baton Rouge describes a "very active scene".