Obama: No justification for violence against cops

President Obama on Sunday condemned the shooting in Baton Rouge that left three police officers dead and three more injured. 

{mosads}”For the second time in two weeks, police officers who put their lives on the line for ours every day were doing their job when they were killed in a cowardly and reprehensible assault,” Obama said in a statement. 

“These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law, and on civilized society, and they have to stop.”

The shooting happened just before 9 a.m., less than one mile from police headquarters, amid spiraling tensions across the city between police and the black community. 

It follows the deaths of five Dallas police officers earlier this month. 

Obama said he’s offered the support of the federal government and pledged: “Justice will be done.” 

“We may not yet know the motives for this attack, but I want to be clear: there is no justification for violence against law enforcement. None.  These attacks are the work of cowards who speak for no one,” Obama said.

“They right no wrongs. They advance no causes. The officers in Baton Rouge; the officers in Dallas – they were our fellow Americans, part of our community, part of our country, with people who loved and needed them, and who need us now – all of us – to be at our best.”

Attorney General Loretta Lynch also released a statement, saying, “Agents from the FBI and ATF are on the scene, and the Department of Justice will make available victim services and federal funding support, and will provide investigative assistance to the fullest extent possible.

“For the second time in two weeks, multiple law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty. There is no place in the United States for such appalling violence, and I condemn these acts in the strongest possible terms. I pledge the full support of the Department of Justice as the investigation unfolds.”

According to the White House, the president spoke with the governor and the mayor of Baton Rouge and offered whatever assistance they needed from the federal government. 

WH says Pres Obama spoke separately about the shootings today with Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards and Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 17, 2016

Obama will address the nation at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday. 

Updated 3:39 p.m.