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Dallas police search headquarters for suspicious man amid threats to officers Dallas on edge as police search headquarters for suspicious man amid fresh threats
(35 minutes later)
Dallas police were on high alert on Saturday evening as they searched for a suspicious man spotted around the department’s headquarters and received anonymous threats against officers. Dallas police have said a suspicious man spotted around the department’s headquarters after threats were made against officers could not be found during a search operation on Saturday evening.
Swat officers and other officials were seen racing out of armoured vehicles with rifles, and reporters and the public were instructed to move back from the department building, which appeared to be under lockdown. Amid heightened security, Swat team officers and dog units scoured a multi-level parking garage connected to the police building. An explosive device and a shotgun were used to gain entry to locked passages, according to police.
Shortly before 8pm it was announced no one had been located. “Out of an abundance of caution, officers searched the garage to ensure reports of a suspicious person was thoroughly investigated,” the department said on Twitter.
It was unclear whether officers planned to seek the man elsewhere or whether he was considered to pose any threat. Dallas police chief David Brown congratulated his officers on a “great job”.
Related: Dallas shooting: tensions over race, policing and guns threaten to boil overRelated: Dallas shooting: tensions over race, policing and guns threaten to boil over
“Officers are searching the police parking garage for a suspicious person,” the department said on Twitter. “Officers are conducting a systematic search of the parking lot ... Officers are planning to breach a lock door in the garage with a shotgun.” Officers had in the previous hours been seen racing out of armoured vehicles with rifles, and reporters and the public were instructed to move back from the department building, which appeared to be under lockdown.
“Officers are searching the police parking garage for a suspicious person,” the department said. “Officers are conducting a systematic search of the parking lot ... Officers are planning to breach a lock door in the garage with a shotgun.”
Police crouch behind vehicles lot south of police statio oriented toward garage @HoustonChron #DallasPoliceShooting pic.twitter.com/6QnA6O9mdfPolice crouch behind vehicles lot south of police statio oriented toward garage @HoustonChron #DallasPoliceShooting pic.twitter.com/6QnA6O9mdf
The department later said a search had not found anyone but that police dogs were now being deployed. Local stations KTVT and WFAA both reported police sources had told them the man was dressed in black and appeared to flee after being confronted by a detective. Local stations KTVT and WFAA both reported police sources had told them the man was dressed in black and appeared to flee after being confronted by a detective.
The developments came soon after the department issued a statement that a threat had been delivered against officers in the city, where five police officers were shot dead by a gunman at the end of a downtown protest last Thursday.The developments came soon after the department issued a statement that a threat had been delivered against officers in the city, where five police officers were shot dead by a gunman at the end of a downtown protest last Thursday.
“The Dallas police department received an anonymous threat against law enforcement across the city and has taken precautionary measures to heightened security,” according to a written statement from police.“The Dallas police department received an anonymous threat against law enforcement across the city and has taken precautionary measures to heightened security,” according to a written statement from police.
Local KTRK television reported the threat was linked to “a group from Houston” that was alleged to be “driving to Dallas with the intent of killing more police officers.” Police spokespeople declined to comment on the nature of the threat.Local KTRK television reported the threat was linked to “a group from Houston” that was alleged to be “driving to Dallas with the intent of killing more police officers.” Police spokespeople declined to comment on the nature of the threat.
Photo of the sweep from @jonjshapley of sweep by @dallaspd pic.twitter.com/trfBpcWagiPhoto of the sweep from @jonjshapley of sweep by @dallaspd pic.twitter.com/trfBpcWagi
Police dismissed reports shots had been heard fired near the department headquarters earlier in the evening. Swat officers “set off a device to enter a locked fence”, officials said, appearing to explain a noise reporters said they had heardPolice dismissed reports shots had been heard fired near the department headquarters earlier in the evening. Swat officers “set off a device to enter a locked fence”, officials said, appearing to explain a noise reporters said they had heard
Dozens of passersby and reporters were around the police department as the search operation developed. A memorial to the deceased officers, comprising flowers, cards and balloons, has built up around a pair of squad cars parked beside the building since Thursday’s shootings.Dozens of passersby and reporters were around the police department as the search operation developed. A memorial to the deceased officers, comprising flowers, cards and balloons, has built up around a pair of squad cars parked beside the building since Thursday’s shootings.
Police instructed television media to stop showing live footage of officers’ movements and appeared increasingly irritated by their presence. “Reporters putting out misinformation is making our jobs more difficult,” the department said on Twitter. “Officers are ordering reporter to move back because they are making it very difficult for them to do their jobs.”Police instructed television media to stop showing live footage of officers’ movements and appeared increasingly irritated by their presence. “Reporters putting out misinformation is making our jobs more difficult,” the department said on Twitter. “Officers are ordering reporter to move back because they are making it very difficult for them to do their jobs.”
The tense reaction to fresh reports about a suspicious person reflected that the city remained on edge two nights after the fatal shooting of five police officers at the end of a peaceful downtown demonstration.
As the city’s residents tried to come to terms with the shootings, some gathered for the procession of the body of one of the deceased policemen, 43-year-old transit officer Brent Thompson, from Dallas to his hometown of Corsicana.
Hundreds of police officers, first responders and civilians stood on bridges over Interstate 45 and along the side of the freeway, many waving American and Texas flags and holding banners, as Thompson’s body was driven 55 miles south to the city of about 24,000 people, on Saturday afternoon.