The shootings in Dallas that killed five law enforcement officers and wounded several others are “a vicious calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement,” President Barack Obama said.
Speaking alongside the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission in Warsaw, Poland, Obama said he had talked with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and offered federal assistance.
He said the officers were targeted while they were doing their jobs — keeping people safe during peaceful protests.
“We are horrified over these events and that we stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas,” he said.
Four Dallas police officer and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer were killed in the shooting that happened as a rally and march in response to police shootings of black men was wrapping up Thursday night. Six other officers were wounded along with one civilian.
One suspected gunman was reportedly dead early Friday.
“We will learn more undoubtedly about their twisted motivations but let’s be clear there’s no possible justification for these kinds of attacks, or any violence against law enforcement,” he said.
Obama said anyone involved would be held fully accountable, and “justice will be done.”
Obama made mention of a speech he gave Thursday in which he called on American law enforcement to root out bias in its ranks, insisting the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota are not isolated.
“I also said yesterday our police have an extraordinarily difficult job and the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding fashion,” he said.
“Today is a wrenching reminder of the sacrifices they make for us,” Obama said. “We also know when people are armed with powerful weapons, unfortunately it makes attacks like these more deadly and more tragic.”
As the city and the nation waits for answers, the focus is on the victims and their families. The president asked that they be kept in people’s thoughts and prayers.
“They are heartbroken, the entire city of Dallas is grieving. Police across America, which is a tight-knit family, feels this loss to their core, and we’re grieving with them,” he said. “As a nation, let’s remember to express our profound gratitude to our men and women in blue, not just today but every day.” – READ MORE
