Two detainees killed and one critically injured in attack at ICE office in Dallas

Authorities say no law enforcement personnel among casualties

Dallas Police attend the scene of a shooting at the city's ICE office on Wednesday. AFP

Two detainees were killed and one critically injured at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement premises in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday.

The gunman died by suicide before they could be taken into custody, authorities said. AP reported, quoting an anonymous law enforcement official, that the suspect had been identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn.

Speaking at a media conference, Joe Rothrock, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office, said that no law enforcement personnel were injured in the attack.

Mr Rothrock said ammunition rounds bearing anti-ICE messages had been found at the scene. FBI head Kash Patel released a photo on social media that shows a bullet bearing the word “anti-ICE” written in marker pen.

“A suspect opened fire at a government building from an adjacent building,” Dallas Police said in a statement, adding that officers had responded to calls at about 6.40am. “Two people were transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds. One victim died at the scene. The suspect is deceased.”

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that shots were fired “indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van in the sallyport”, a secure and gated entryway.

The gunman was found dead on the roof of a nearby building, local media reported.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the motive remained unclear but claimed there had been an sharp rise in attacks on ICE agents.

A July 4 attack at a Texas immigration detention centre led to a police officer being wounded by a gunshot in the neck. Attackers dressed in black military-style clothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Centre in Alvarado, south-west of Dallas, federal prosecutors said. At least 11 people have been charged in connection with the attack.

A man with an assault rifle fired dozens of rounds at federal agents as they were leaving a US Border Patrol office in McAllen, Texas on July 7. The man, identified as Ryan Mosqueda, injured a police officer who responded to the scene before authorities shot and killed him. Police later found other weapons, ammunition and backpacks inside his car.

“This needs to stop,” Texas Senator Ted Cruz told a media briefing. “Politically motivated violence is wrong.”

He criticised politicians allegedly calling for ICE and other law enforcement officers to have their identities made public. “We need to learn to work together without demonising each other, without attacking each other.”