LIVE: Five police officers killed in Dallas; Suspect said he 'wanted to kill white people'
A suspect in the gun attack on police in the heart of Dallas told officers he was upset over recent police shootings of black men and wanted to kill white people, according to officials.
The suspect died after a stand-off with police following the attacks which left five officers dead and seven injured during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men.
Police Chief David Brown said at a news conference that the suspect told negotiators he was acting alone and was unaffiliated with any group.
Although the suspect apparently said he acted alone, it remains unclear if that was the case.
Mr Brown said earlier that three other suspects were in custody, but he declined to discuss those detentions and said police do not know if investigators have accounted for all participants in the attack.
Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings has said that the suspect who was in a stand-off with police has died.
Snipers have opened fire on police in the heart of Dallas, killing five officers and injuring six others during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men.
Three people are in custody, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said, and a fourth suspect who exchanged gunfire with officers in a city centre parking garage after reportedly making threats about bombs has died, according to mayor Mike Rawlings.
WATCH: "No explosives have been found." - #Dallas Mayor Mike_Rawlings: https://t.co/veSlOF9Qes
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 8, 2016
https://t.co/sQzULtfbXm
Mr Rawlings said the suspect died after officers used explosives to "blast him out", but added he was not sure how he died or what weapons were found on him.
Police sealed off the city centre but later tweeted that primary and secondary sweeps for explosives were complete and no explosives had been found.
Authorities have not determined whether any protesters were involved with or were complicit in the attack.
One woman was taken into custody in the same parking garage as the stand-off, Mr Brown said. Two others were taken into custody during a traffic stop.
We don't feel much support most days, let's not make today most days, please we need your support: Dallas police pic.twitter.com/oXRpf8m0Aj
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 8, 2016
Mr Rawlings said at a news conference that authorities were asking people to stay away from the city centre: "This is still an active crime scene. We're determining how big that crime scene is."
A map was being posted online showing an area where people should avoid, he said.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit said in a statement that 43-year-old Brent Thompson was the first officer killed in the line of duty since the agency formed a police department in 1989.
"Our hearts are broken," the statement said.
US President Barack Obama has labelled the mass shooting of 11 police officers in Dallas as a “despicable attack on law enforcement”.
“We are horrified at these events,” said Obama.
“Let's be clear there is no possible justification for these attacks.
“The vast majority of police do their job in outstanding fashion. Today a reminder of sacrifices they make for us.
“I ask all Americans to say a prayer for these officers and their families.”
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the remaining suspect – who was in the El Centro College garage, in downtown Dallas - is dead.
The Dallas Police have not confirmed the report at this time.
US President Barack Obama is expected to address the situation in Dallas at a news conference in Warsaw, Poland shortly.
Police escort three UTSouthwestern vans, presumably to the medical examiner's office pic.twitter.com/StPvqurGOc
— Eva-Marie Ayala (@EvaMarieAyala) July 8, 2016
Snipers have opened fire on police officers in Dallas, killing five and injuring several others during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men, police said.
Three people are in custody and police were negotiating with a suspect in a parking garage who was exchanging gunfire with officials, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said early on Friday morning.
The suspect is not co-operating and has told negotiators he intends to hurt more law enforcement officials, Mr Brown said.
Dallas Police Chief and Mayor Rawlins arrive at #Dallas hospital. Exchange hugs with officers. #Dallasshooting pic.twitter.com/hcJOmztPT4
— Dr. Seema Yasmin is barely on here (@DoctorYasmin) July 8, 2016
Man wrongly labeled as person of interest in #dallaspoliceshooting "I can't believe it.I can't believe it." Via KTVT pic.twitter.com/n37cY7h9hk
— Dr. Seema Yasmin is barely on here (@DoctorYasmin) July 8, 2016
Dallas Police Department said: "It has been a devastating night. We are sad to report a fifth officer has died."
It has been a devastating night. We are sad to report a fifth officer has died.
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
Witness Ismael Dejesus joins @donlemon to share the video he captured of the #Dallas shooting https://t.co/oBmEIv09rk
— CNN (@CNN) July 8, 2016
The Dallas Police Department has confirmed that a fifth police officer has now passed away in the mass shooting.
DART officer Brent Thompson, 43, has been the first of the dead police officers to be named.
DART identifies Brent Thompson, 43, as DART officer killed in #Dallas shooting https://t.co/TdfButTCF2 pic.twitter.com/aCLKESHhDa
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) July 8, 2016
A suspect in the shootings in Dallas which left four police officers dead is exchanging gunfire with officers, the city's police chief said.
David Brown said three people were now in custody, after at least two snipers opened fire on police officers during protests in Dallas on Thursday night.
Seven other police officers were injured, while one member of the public was wounded in the gunfire.
Three suspects are now in custody over the Dallas shootings, while a fourth person is exchanging gunfire with officers, the city's police chief said.
MANY gunshots heard in video I captured in #Dallas, just before 9p as rally marched through downtown @wfaachannel8 pic.twitter.com/1O3GB0b9xx
— Marie Saavedra (@MSaavedraTV) July 8, 2016
Mr Brown told a news conference that the authorities are negotiating with a suspect in a central Dallas parking garage who has been exchanging gunfire with officials.
The chief said the suspect is not co-operating and has told negotiators he intends to hurt more law enforcement officials.
"The suspect has told our negotiators that the end is coming," Chief Brown said.
Update: pic.twitter.com/ukWSZJeZo3
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
Mr Brown had earlier said that the snipers fired "ambush style" upon the officers.
Police said one suspect in the killings who was in a shoot-out with Dallas SWAT officers was in custody, while a second "person of interest" had surrendered. They said a suspicious package was being secured by a bomb squad.
Dallas police said they were questioning two occupants of a vehicle after an officer saw a person throw a bag into the back of the vehicle and speed off.
He spotted someone carrying a camouflage bag and quickly walking down the street. The person then threw the bag into the back of a black Mercedes and sped off.
Police said officers followed the vehicle southbound on Interstate 35 to a point south of Dallas where they performed a traffic stop. They then began questioning both occupants of the vehicle.
Television footage showed many police cars surrounding the vehicle.
The Dallas police are negotiating with a suspect at a parking garage in downtown Dallas, Chief David Brown said.
Three suspects are now in custody over the Dallas shootings, while a fourth person is exchanging gunfire with officers, the city's police chief said.
Police are reported to have been exchanging gunfire with the suspect for 45 minutes.
"The suspect has told our negotiators that the end is coming," Chief Brown said.
The suspect is reported to have said more officers are going to be hurt, and added that there are multiple bombs placed in downtown Dallas.
At least two snipers opened fire on police officers during protests in Dallas on Thursday night, killing four officers and injuring seven others, police said.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters the snipers fired "ambush style" upon the officers.
Police said a suspect in the killings who was in a shoot-out with Dallas SWAT officers was in custody, while a second "person of interest" had surrendered. They said a suspicious package was being secured by a bomb squad.
#breaking Crowd on the run downtown Dallas. Reports of an officer shot at the protest march. pic.twitter.com/zstZnDIRlm
— Doug Dunbar (@cbs11doug) July 8, 2016
Mr Brown had earlier said the police had a suspect cornered and were negotiating with him.
The gunfire broke out around 8.45pm local time on Thursday while hundreds of people were gathered to protest against fatal police shootings this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St Paul, Minnesota.
The protesters had gathered after a Minnesota officer on Wednesday fatally shot Philando Castile while he was in a car with a woman and a child in St Paul.
The aftermath of the shooting was purportedly livestreamed in a widely shared Facebook video.
A day earlier, Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers. That, too, was captured on a mobile phone video.
Video footage from the scene showed that protesters were marching along a street about half a mile from City Hall when the shots erupted and the crowd scattered, seeking cover.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety director to offer "whatever assistance the City of Dallas needs at this time".
Update: pic.twitter.com/qBJe3q0EtN
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
Mr Abbott said: "In times like this we must remember - and emphasise - the importance of uniting as Americans."
The search for the gunman had stretched throughout central Dallas, an area of hotels, restaurants, businesses and some residential apartments.
The scene was chaotic, with helicopters hovering overhead and officers with automatic rifles on the street corners.
"Everyone just started running," Devante Odom, 21, told The Dallas Morning News. "We lost touch with two of our friends just trying to get out of there."
Carlos Harris, who lives in the area, told the newspaper that the shooters "were strategic. It was tap tap pause. Tap tap pause."
The gunshots in Dallas came amid protests nationwide over the recent police shootings.
In Manhattan, New York City, protesters first gathered in Union Square Park where they chanted "The people united, never be divided!" and "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!"
A group of protesters then left the park and began marching up Fifth Avenue blocking traffic during the height of rush hour as police scrambled to keep up.
Another group headed through Herald Square and Times Square where several arrests were reported.
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