President Obama forced to address gun violence again after fatal police shootings in Dallas

President Barack Obama slowly walked to the podium. The usually pleasant stride in his steps were absent. His eyes were dim and bleary. His voice was even, but somber. Just a day after releasing a statement about Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men who were shot and killed by on-duty police officers, the president found himself speaking from a location in Poland on Friday about the latest tragedy to strike America.

Obama noted that he will have more to say when additional facts are released, and added that there was “no possible justification for these kinds of attacks, or any violence against law enforcement.”

“For now, let me just say that even as [Thursday], I spoke about our need to be concerned as all Americans about racial disparities in our criminals justice system,” Obama said. “I also said [Thursday] that our police have an extraordinarily difficult job, and the vast majority do their job in outstanding fashion.”

Late Thursday night, a gunman whose reported intentions were to kill white people, ambushed Dallas police officers who were working a Black Lives Matter demonstration in downtown Dallas. Five officers were killed and seven were injured. Hours later, the purported gunman was identified as Micah Xavier Johnson, a 25-year-old from Mesquite, Texas, with no prior criminal record. But details on the shootings are still forthcoming.

The president vowed that those responsible will be held fully accountable for their actions, and also asked Americans to keep the families of the victims in their thoughts and prayers.

“I’d ask all Americans to say a prayer for these officers and their families, keep them in your thoughts and, as a nation, let’s remember to profess our profound gratitude to our men and women in blue — not just today, but every day.”

Watch the president give his statement here.