Pipe bombs found in van of dead gunman who attacked Dallas police headquarters

A suspected gunman in a van was shot dead by a police sniper Saturday following an overnight assault on Dallas police headquarters that forced officers to dodge bullets and in which at least one pipe bomb exploded when a robot touched it.

The suspect sprayed squad cars with an assault rifle during the attack and then got into an hours-long standoff with officers that ended early Saturday when a police officer armed with a .50-caliber rifle shot through the windshield of the suspect’s van, where two pipe bombs were later recovered.

No officers or civilians were injured in the attack.

“We barely survived the intent of the suspect,” police Chief David Brown said at a news conference. Bullets pierced the doors of the police department, but only struck furniture.

Before he was shot, the suspect claimed in a phone call during a police chase that the van he was driving was full of explosives. The vehicle appeared to be outfitted with gun ports on the side.

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http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-shots-fired-near-dallas-police-headquarters-20150613-story.html