Five police officers have been killed by at least two snipers in Dallas at a protest over recent fatal shootings of black men.

Seven other officers were wounded in the targeted attack along with two civilians.

President Barack Obama described the shootings as "a vicious, calculated and despicable act" and vowed those responsible would be held accountable.

Image: Brent Thompson

Two of those killed have been named as 43-year-old Brent Thompson, of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit police department, and Officer Patrick Zamarripa.

One of the gunmen, who had been involved in an stand-off with police and exchanged fire with officers from inside a parking garage, died after explosives were used to "blast him out", according to Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings.


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He had told officers that "the end is coming", that he intended to kill more police, and that there were bombs "all over downtown Dallas".

Image: Patrick Zamarripa

However, police said no explosives were found following "extensive sweeps" of the area.

Three suspects, thought to be two men and a woman, are in custody. Two of them were stopped in a black Mercedes car following a high speed chase.

The initial gunshots were heard at Belo Garden Park around 8.45pm local time, as hundreds of people gathered to protest over fatal police shootings this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St Paul, Minnesota.

President Obama On Dallas Shootings

Dallas police chief David Brown said the snipers took their shots "from elevated positions" during the protest in an "ambush style".

Some had been shot in the back.

Mr Brown said it appeared the gunmen "planned to injure and kill as many officers as they could".

It was the deadliest day for US law enforcement since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

The shootings in Dallas sparked panic as protesters scrambled for cover.

A Victim Lies On The Ground After The Initial Shootings

The ensuing security operation saw helicopters hovering overhead and officers with automatic rifles on the street corner.

Resident Carlos Harris said the gunmen "were strategic. It was tap, tap pause. Tap, tap pause."

Mr Obama, who had been briefed on the shootings during a visit to Poland, said every American would be "horrified" at the "senseless murders".

Image: Daily News Image: The Boston Globe Image: New York Post Image: LA Times Image: Dallas Morning News /

Paying tribute to the police, he added: "Today is a wrenching reminder of the sacrifices that they make for us."

He went on: "We also know that when people are armed with powerful weapons, unfortunately it makes attacks like these more deadly and more tragic.

"And in the days ahead we are going to have to consider those realities as well."

The shootings came amid protests across the US over recent police shootings.

Footage Of Dallas Shootings

On Tuesday, music vendor Alton Sterling was shot dead in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after being held down by police officers.

The following day, Philando Castile was in a car with his girlfriend and child when he was shot dead by an officer in Minnesota.

Both shootings were captured on mobile phones and the footage widely shared.