Domestic terrorismFive officers killed by a sniper in Dallas (updated)

Five police officers were killed, and seven officers and two civilians injured, on Thursday by 25-year old Micha Xavier Johnson, who opened fire on the officers during a protest march in Dallas. During a 3-hour standoff with the police, Johnson said he was not associated with any group or organization, and that his only purpose was to kill White people – especially White police officers. It was the deadliest attack on law enforcement officers since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Three suspects, whose relationship with Johnson is being investigated, have been arrested – one near the place of the shooting, and two others after being stopped at a traffic light

Johnson was killed by a police bomb, which was carried to where he was hiding by a police robot.

The march in Dallas, like similar marches which took place at the same time in other cities, called for justice after the police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota shot and killed two African Americans – 37-year old Alton Sterling and 32-year old Philande Castilo – earlier this week.

The Washington Post reports that Johnson said “more will die,” claiming to have planted explosives throughout the area.

The suspect “told our negotiators that the end is coming and he’s going to hurt and kill more of us, meaning law enforcement, and that there are bombs all over the place in this garage and downtown,”Dallas Police Chief David Brown said.

“We are being very careful in our tactics so that we don’t injure or put any of our officers in harm’s way, including the citizens of Dallas, as we negotiate further,” he added.

Chief Brown said the shooting had been carried out by snipers who fired down on a demonstration in the city’s downtown area that until that point had been peaceful, the chief said.

They “planned to injure and kill as many law enforcement officers as they could,” Brown said.

“Some were shot in the back,” the chief said. “We believe that these suspects were positioning themselves in a way to triangulate on these officers.”

Brown said he was not sure if there were more suspects at large. “We still don’t have a complete comfort level that we have all the suspects,” he said.

Mayor Max Geron tweeted to saythat no explosives were found in two searches of the downtown area.

Another suspect turned himself into police voluntarily. He was later released by police.

“We still don’t have a complete comfort level that we have all the suspects,” Brown told reporters earlier. “We will continue a rigorous search of downtown until we are satisfied that all suspects have been captured.” 

When Brown spoke to reporters, he said that two suspects were positioned on top of a downtown parking garages and had purposely targeted police officers. “They planned to injure and kill as many law enforcement officers as they could,” he said.

“We are reaching out to the families of these officers and bring them to the hospitals,” Brown said in a press conference.

It has now emerged that Johnson was the only shooter, and that the police – and march participants – initially thought there were several shooting because of the echo effect of the many shots Johnson had fired.

The Dallas Public Transportation System (Dart) said on Twitter that all bus and rail services had been suspended after the attacks. The FAA also issued a temporary restriction on all flights over the downtown area.

“There has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement,” President Obama told reportersFriday morning after a meeting with European leaders in Warsaw, after speaking by phone with Mayor Mike Rawlingsof Dallas.

Obama went on: “Police in Dallas were on duty doing their jobs, keeping people safe, during peaceful protests. These law enforcement officers were targeted, and nearly a dozen officers were shot. Five were killed. Other officers, and at least one civilian, were wounded. Some are in serious condition, and we are praying for their recovery.”

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said Friday that federal officials were on the scene and working with local law enforcement to help investigate the attack.

“This has been a week of profound grief and heartbreak and loss,” Lynch said during remarks Friday. Noting that the attack in Dallas happened during a protest sparked by police shootings, she added: “After the events of this week, Americans across our country are feeling a sense of helplessness, uncertainty and fear … but the answer must not be violence.”