Dallas shooting: Donald Trump says US is 'too divided' after police officers are murdered in sniper attack

Jamie Bullen8 July 2016

Donald Trump has said America is “too divided” and warned racial tensions have worsened as he spoke out to condemn the Dallas police attacks in which five officers were shot dead.

The presumptive Republican presidential candidate described the ambush as a “coordinated” and “premeditated” assault after the shootings during a civil rights protest.

Officials say five police officers were killed and seven wounded by four snipers.

In a statement, Mr Trump said: “Last night’s horrific execution-style shootings of 12 Dallas law enforcement officers – five of whom were killed and seven wounded- is an attack on our country.

Divided: Donald Trump has condemned the killings of police officers in Dallas
AP Photo/John Minchillo

“It is a coordinated, premeditated assault on the men and women who keep us safe.

“We must restore law and order. We must restore the confidence of our people to be safe and secure in their homes and on the street.

Dallas shootings - In pictures

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“The senseless, tragic deaths of two people in Louisiana and Minnesota reminds us how much more needs to be done.

“This morning I offer my thoughts and prayers for all of the victims’ families, and we pray for our brave police officers and first responders who risk their lives to protect us every single day.

“Our nation has become too divided. Too many Americans feel like they’ve lost hope. Crime is harming too many citizens.

“Racial tensions have gotten worse, not better. This isn’t the American Dream we all want for our children.

“This is a time, perhaps more than ever, for strong leadership, love and compassion. We will pull through these tragedies.”

Mr Trump joined President Barack Obama in condemning the killings and announced he was postponing a speech in Miami because of the horrific killings.

Speaking from Warsaw today, the Mr described the bloody ambush as a “vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement”.

He said: “There’s no possible justification for these kinds of attacks or any violence against law enforcement.

“We also know that when people are armed with powerful weapons, unfortunately it makes attacks like these more deadly.”

Dallas Police Chief David Brown said investigators believe the four killers ‘were positioning themselves in a way to triangulate on these officers from two different perches in the downtown area and planned to injure and kill as many law enforcement officers as they could.

The shootings started at 8.45pm as hundreds of protesters marched through Dallas demanding justice for two black men shot dead by police earlier this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and St. Paul, Minnesota.

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