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Gunman kills two New York police officers | Gunman kills two New York police officers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A gunman has shot dead two police officers sitting inside a patrol car in New York before killing himself. | |
The head of the New York police said the men had been "targeted for their uniform". The gunman then ran into a subway station where he shot himself. | |
Earlier he had shot and injured his ex-girlfriend and had posted anti-police messages on social media. | |
President Barack Obama - who is on holiday in Hawaii - said he condemned the killings unconditionally. | |
"Officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day," he said in a statement. | |
The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, said anyone who saw postings indicating a threat to the police should report them to the authorities. The "whole city was in mourning" after the shootings, he said. | The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, said anyone who saw postings indicating a threat to the police should report them to the authorities. The "whole city was in mourning" after the shootings, he said. |
The shootings come at a time when New York city police are facing intense scrutiny for their tactics, the BBC's Samira Hussein reports from New York. | The shootings come at a time when New York city police are facing intense scrutiny for their tactics, the BBC's Samira Hussein reports from New York. |
Earlier this month, a grand jury did not indict any New York police department officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, a black man who died when white police officers tried to arrest him for selling cigarettes. | Earlier this month, a grand jury did not indict any New York police department officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, a black man who died when white police officers tried to arrest him for selling cigarettes. |
The decision sparked protests in New York and other cities across the US. | The decision sparked protests in New York and other cities across the US. |
'Simply assassinated' | 'Simply assassinated' |
The officers were on duty in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn when they were shot on Saturday afternoon. | The officers were on duty in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn when they were shot on Saturday afternoon. |
Officers Liu Wenjin and Raphael Ramos were pronounced dead in hospital. | Officers Liu Wenjin and Raphael Ramos were pronounced dead in hospital. |
Bill Bratton, commissioner of the New York police department, said the officers had been shot with "no warning, no provocation - they were quite simply assassinated". | Bill Bratton, commissioner of the New York police department, said the officers had been shot with "no warning, no provocation - they were quite simply assassinated". |
The killer's name was given as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28. | The killer's name was given as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28. |
The gunman was a black man while the two police officers were Asian and Hispanic, police said. | The gunman was a black man while the two police officers were Asian and Hispanic, police said. |
Commissioner Bratton said the suspect had wounded his former girlfriend earlier on Saturday in Baltimore and had made posts from her Instagram account. | Commissioner Bratton said the suspect had wounded his former girlfriend earlier on Saturday in Baltimore and had made posts from her Instagram account. |
"This may be my final post," said one that included an image of a silver handgun. | "This may be my final post," said one that included an image of a silver handgun. |
Two officials told the Associated Press news agency that the gunman had also posted about shooting police in retaliation for the death of Mr Garner. | Two officials told the Associated Press news agency that the gunman had also posted about shooting police in retaliation for the death of Mr Garner. |
US Attorney General Eric Holder called the shootings an "unspeakable act of barbarism". | US Attorney General Eric Holder called the shootings an "unspeakable act of barbarism". |
The Rev Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist, said Mr Garner's family had had no connection to the gunman and he denounced the violence. | The Rev Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist, said Mr Garner's family had had no connection to the gunman and he denounced the violence. |
"Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown [a black man shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri] in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases," Rev Sharpton said. | "Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown [a black man shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri] in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases," Rev Sharpton said. |
Police anger | Police anger |
Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo, of Brooklyn's 66th Precinct police, tweeted: "Our prayers are with our fellow NYPD brothers who were executed in the line of duty today in Brooklyn". | Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo, of Brooklyn's 66th Precinct police, tweeted: "Our prayers are with our fellow NYPD brothers who were executed in the line of duty today in Brooklyn". |
The last fatal shooting of a New York police officer was in 2011. | The last fatal shooting of a New York police officer was in 2011. |
The president of the police officers union in New York, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, has spoken out angrily about the attack, | The president of the police officers union in New York, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, has spoken out angrily about the attack, |
Patrick Lynch told the BBC's News Channel that Mayor de Blasio should be held accountable for the deaths of the two officers. | Patrick Lynch told the BBC's News Channel that Mayor de Blasio should be held accountable for the deaths of the two officers. |
"There's blood on many hands tonight," he said. "Those that incited violence on the street under the guise of protest. We tried to warn - it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated. That blood on the hands starts on the steps of city hall, in the office of the mayor." | "There's blood on many hands tonight," he said. "Those that incited violence on the street under the guise of protest. We tried to warn - it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated. That blood on the hands starts on the steps of city hall, in the office of the mayor." |