Three held in US gun plot against police

Authorities in Louisiana - already rocked by the deadly police shooting of an African American man - said on Tuesday they have arrested three black youths for stealing guns they planned to use to kill officers.

Police responded around 02:00 on Saturday as the suspects were trying to steal weapons from a pawn shop, and surveillance video showed the trio breaking in through the roof, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Antonio Thomas, 17, "stated that he and three other suspects stole the firearms and were going to get bullets to shoot police," a police statement said.

He was booked into prison on charges of simple burglary and theft of a firearm. It was not immediately clear whether the fourth suspect not in prison was on the run.