This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33124563

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Dallas attack: Texas police investigate gunman Dallas attack: Suspect 'snapped' says father
(about 7 hours later)
US authorities are investigating a gun and bomb attack targeting the Dallas police headquarters. A man suspected of attacking the Dallas police headquarters with guns and explosives had "snapped" under personal pressures, his father has said.
A man left bombs outside the police HQ and opened fire on the building early on Saturday, before fleeing the scene in a van. The suspect identified himself to the authorities as James Boulware, but his identity is yet to be officially confirmed.
A police chase led to a standoff in a car park, which ended after police shot and killed a suspect, and detonated bombs in a vehicle. He was shot dead in his van by police snipers after a standoff.
Police say they believe the attacker was motivated by personal grievances. His father, also named James, said his son had been angered by losing custody of his son.
Authorities say are awaiting the result of a medical examination, which will confirm the identity of the suspect. "Not being able to get a job and the legal system letting him down, [he] finally snapped,'' the elder James Boulware told Associated Press.
"But I can't say shooting at a police station is right in any way.''
His mother, Jeannine Hammond, told an NBC affiliate her son was mentally ill. He had faced several charges including for attacking family members.
'Hair-raising'
Police have said they were "blessed" no officers were hurt in the attack, which began in the early hours of Saturday when the man sprayed the Dallas police headquarters with bullets.
He sped off in what appeared to be an armoured vehicle, ramming a police car and leaving behind explosives outside the HQ.
The situation was so chaotic in the early stages some witnesses thought several gunmen were involved.
The suspected attacker was eventually surrounded at a restaurant parking lot, with police snipers shooting him dead through the vehicle's windscreen.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said snipers had decided to shoot the suspect after "he became increasingly angry and threatening" during negotiations, and appeared to pose a threat to those around him.
It took hours to confirm his death with police using robots to inspect the van fearing it had been rigged with explosives.
"There are bullet holes in squad cars where officers were sitting," said Mr Brown. "It raises the hair of the back of your neck just thinking what could have happened."
He added: "I believe we are blessed that our officers survived this ordeal."
The FBI is assisting investigations into the attack, and Dallas police say they are seeking more information about the incident from the public.The FBI is assisting investigations into the attack, and Dallas police say they are seeking more information about the incident from the public.
Pipe bombs "The lone suspect had three family violence cases against him," the Dallas Police Association tweeted. "He was very disgruntled against law enforcement and the criminal justice system."
During the assault, the gunman called the police and accused them of causing him to lose custody of his child.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters that the suspect had given his name as James Boulware, and that officers had attended three incidents of domestic violence in the past involving a man with that name.
However, Mr Brown added that the suspect could have lied about his identity.
The gun attack on the police headquarters began at about 00:30 local time (05:30 GMT) on Saturday.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled in what appeared to be an armoured vehicle, ramming a police car.
Officers also found at least two bombs planted outside the police headquarters - they successfully detonated one, while another exploded as a robot tried to move it.
The police chase ended in a standoff at a car park in Hutchins, about nine miles (14km) from central Dallas.
Police snipers eventually shot through the front windshield of the van, but police did not confirm the suspect's death until several hours later.
Police used a robot equipped with a camera to confirm that the suspect had died, because the gunman had warned that he had explosives in his vehicle.
Police then carried out controlled detonations on the two pipe bombs in the van, leaving the van in flames.
There was "lots of shrapnel... in the pipe bombs that exploded", including screws and nails, police said.
Attack timelineAttack timeline
Mr Brown said snipers had decided to shoot the suspect after "he became increasingly angry and threatening" during negotiations, and appeared to pose a threat to those around him.
He added that it was extremely lucky that no-one else had been killed during the attack.
"There are bullet holes in squad cars where officers were sitting," he said. "It raises the hair of the back of your neck just thinking what could have happened."
He added: "I believe we are blessed that our officers survived this ordeal."