A Facebook page claiming to represent a black power group has posted messages claiming responsibility for the deaths of five police officers in Dallas.
The so-called Black Power Political Organization claimed on its Facebook account that it was behind the attack in which cops were picked out from an 'elevated position' - believed to be a multi-storey car park.
It came in the week of public outrage over the deaths of two unamed black men shot by police.
There were initial reports there could have been up to three or four snipers involved in a co-ordinated attack during a peaceful Black Live Matter protest.
However - while two men and one women have been arrested in connection with the attacks - it's being claimed tonight that police are operating on the theory of a 'lone gunman' being responsible.
This gunman has been named as Micah Xavier Johnson, from Texas, who served with the US Army Reserve for six years and served for a time in Afghanistan.
Today bomb-making materials, guns and a bullet proof vest were found Johnson’s home.
Mac Johnson
A police spokesman said: "During the search of the suspect’s home, detectives found bomb making materials, ballistic vests, rifles, ammunition, and a personal journal of combat tactics.
"Detectives are in the processing of analyzing the information contained in the journal."
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said tonight Johnson told negotiators before he died he was upset over recent police-involved shootings of African Americans and “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."
"Detectives are in the processing of analysing the information contained in the journal."
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said tonight Johnson told negotiators before he died he was upset over recent police-involved shootings of African Americans and “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."
Authorities do not believe that Johnson and three other suspects who have since been arrested are part of a larger group, the official added.
Chief Brown did not identify Johnson by name but said the shooter was not affiliated with any other groups “and stated that he did this alone."
However, he also said: "We still don't have complete comfort that we have all the suspects."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: "It is my understanding that investigators have now publicly ruled out the possibility that the individual who carried out this terrible act of violence had any sort of connections to terrorist organisations either in the United States or around the world."
He spoke to reporters in Warsaw, where President Barack Obama had attended a NATO summit.
"I don’t think that there's a link to any sort of terrorist conspiracy," Earnest said.
The so-called Black Power Political Organization claimed on its Facebook account that it was behind the attack and that 'more assassinations are coming'.
However, authorities in Dallas have not confirmed any political link to the shootings.
Little is known about the BPPO group, which had just over 300 followers on Facebook and does not appear to have any other social media accounts or presence on Google.
Its message - posted in the aftermath of the shootings - said: "#BlackPower! #BlackKnights! Sniper Assassins Take Down Five Police Officers! And More Will Be Assassinated In The Coming Days!
"Do You Like The Work Of Our Assassins? Get Your Own Sniper Rifle And Join Our Thousands Of Sniper Assassins Worldwide In The Fight Against Oppression!”
The account has since been taken down - it is understood that the page was removed for violating Facebook's standards.
The group has posted dozens of statements on alleged racially motivated incidents and threatening violent action over at least the several months.
Days ago the group had left an ominous message pledging to get 'revenge' for the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling who was shot repeatedly while being pinned to the ground in an incident captured on mobile phone footage.
A message said: "Don't worry my people! Justice will be served for Alton Sterling!
"We contacted the police chief Carl Dabadie Jr. He already know what will happen to him, his wide Carla Settoon Dabadie, and his two sons, if he don't do what we want.
"So continue to support us, and (Black Knights) sniper assassin group."
Eye witnesses that were at the Black Lives Matter protest last night described the moment shooting broke out and terrified demonstrators fled for cover.
One said: "A sniper just started shooting. All the cops were getting shot, I just saw cops bending over. There had to be like five or six cops all getting shot down.
"They just kept shooting them. We didn't know where it was coming from. I didn't see anybody else get shot it was just cops."
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