Police officers shot at across the country copycat attacks in wake of black men’s deaths at hands of cops
Shootings reported in states of Missouri, Tennessee and Georgia as anger at 'police racism' grows
COPS in the US say officers around the country have been targeted in the aftermath of police killings of black men.
Five officers were killed and seven more wounded when two snipers opened fire in Dallas, Texas, yesterday.
The shooters – one of whom was killed at the scene – were said to be angry about the deaths of black men at the hands of cops.
But authorities have said similar incidents to the Dallas attack are now being reported across America.
Police officers have been targeted as violent attacks were carried out in the US states of Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri.
One person was killed and several more hurt after a gunman opened fire on a highway near the town of Bristol in the southern state of Tennessee.
Local law enforcement said the attack could have been motivated by anger over recent police shootings, including the killing of Alton Sterling in Louisiana this week.
The incident, which was caught on camera by a member of the public, was the trigger for the protest at which the 12 officers were shot in Texas.
In Ballwin, Missouri, a cop was hit after being having three shots fired at him as he walked back to his car after a routine traffic stop.
Local Police Chief Jon Belmar described the attack as an “ambush”.
The suspect sped off in his car but was later caught on foot, while the condition of the officer remains unknown.
And in Valdosta, Georgia, a suspect lured police to an address with an emergency call reporting a break-in.
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But when an officer arrived to investigate, he ambushed and shot him – hitting him twice in his bullet-proof vest and once below the vest in the stomach.
The issue of police treatment of ethnic minorities has been a divisive one in America.
Recent instances of confirmed and alleged police brutality, captured on camera and shared, fuelled public anger and helped spur on the Black Lives Matter movement.
The movement has spurred protests across the US, and around the world – with hundreds joining a Black Lives Matter march through London yesterday.
But the events are often highly charged, and sometimes break out into violence – usually targeted against police.
The town of Ferguson, Missouri, saw chaos and looting two years ago in the aftermath of a court decision not to bring charges over the killing of black teenager Michael Brown.
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