Obama condemns Dallas shootings as 'vicious' and 'despicable'

WARSAW, Poland, July 8 (UPI) -- President Barak Obama, speaking from a NATO summit in Poland, condemned the sniper-style shooting that left five Dallas police officers dead and six injured as "a vicious, despicable and calculated attack on law enforcement."

Obama said the shootings are a "tremendous tragedy" and "senseless murders." Obama comments come after a sniper opened fire at a protest over recent police shootings. Four Dallas police officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer were killed.

"We will learn more about their twisted motivations. But let's be clear: There is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks or any violence against law enforcement," he said.

Obama delivered his comments from Warsaw, Poland, where he was attending a summit of European Union and NATO leaders. Soon after he arrived in Warsaw and before the Dallas protest, he delivered a statement about police-involved shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, saying the events represent a persistent racial disparity in the country. His statement about Dallas police came hours later.

Obama said he offered his condolences to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and said the FBI is in contact with local law enforcement. He said there is still not a lot known about the attack on the officers.

"Let me just say, even as yesterday I spoke about our need to be concerned as all Americans about racial discrimination in our criminal justice system. I also said yesterday our police have an extraordinarily difficult job and the vast majority do their job in outstanding fashion."

Obama said the shooting again brings up the issue of gun control. He said the availability of powerful weapons "makes attacks like these more deadly and more tragic."

"The entire city of Dallas is grieving. Police across America, and they're a tight-knit family, feels this loss to their core and we're grieving with them," he said.