DALLAS SHOOTINGS: 'Snipers' kill five police officers in 'deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11'

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

• 11 police officers and two bystanders have been shot 'by snipers'

• Five officers are dead

• Snipers opened fire during a protest after the shootings of two black men

• Suspect dead after stand off with police

• Protester photographed with assault rifle released from custody

Four gunmen have shot 11 police officers and two civilians, killing at least five officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas on Thursday night (local time), local police said.

The shootings have been described by a President Obama as a 'vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement'.

According to statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the attack is the deadliest for law enforcement since 9/11.

Shooter suspect was 'an army reservist'

A black US Army reservist who served in the Afghan war and said he wanted to "kill white people" has been identified as a gunman who took part in yesterday's attack, in which five police officers were shot dead at a protest decrying police shootings of black men, officials say.

Seven other police officers and two civilians were wounded in the ambush in downtown Dallas on Thursday night, officials said.

Police killed the gunman, identified by a US government source as Micah Xavier Johnson, using a bomb-carrying robot after an hours-long standoff.

The shooting sent swarms of protesters running in panic in the streets as police officers came under fire.

"This was a well-planned, well-thought-out, evil tragedy by these suspects. And we won't rest until we bring everyone involved to justice," Dallas Police Chief David Brown said on Friday.

"We are determined to not let this person steal this democracy from us."

During lengthy negotiations with police, the gunman said "the end is coming," Brown told reporters.

"He said he was upset about the recent police shootings," said Brown, who is black.

"The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated that he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."

This undated photo posted on Facebook on April 30, 2016, shows Micah Johnson, who was a suspect in the sniper slayings of five law enforcement officers in Dallas. Source: Facebok via AP

Authorities said that the gunman fired at least some of the shots in the attack but have not ruled out that other shooters were involved.

The US Army said Johnson had served as a private first class in the Army Reserve, made up of part-time soldiers, and was deployed to Afghanistan from November 2013 to July 2014.

It said Johnson served from March 2009 to April 2015 and was a carpentry and masonry specialist with the 420th Engineering Brigade based in Texas.

The shootings, the latest major gun violence to rock the United States, took place toward the end of a march protesting incidents earlier in the week in Louisiana and Minnesota in which police fatally shot black men in confrontations whose bloody aftermath was caught on video.

The Dallas shootings came during a week of heightened emotions over police use of force against black suspects and raised fears that others might seek to retaliate against police.

A string of killings of black men and boys by police in cities including Ferguson, Missouri, New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Tulsa, Oklahoma and North Charleston, South Carolina have given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement against excessive police force.

The killings have spurred almost two years of periodic and largely peaceful street protests.

Police believed during the shooting that they were under attack by multiple gunmen using high-powered rifles at ground level and on rooftops.

Police said they were questioning two occupants of a Mercedes they had pulled over after seeing a man throwing a camouflage bag inside the back of the vehicle, which then sped off on a downtown street.

A woman was also taken into custody near the garage where the standoff took place.

A Twitter account describing itself as representing the Black Lives Matter movement sent the message: "Black Lives Matter advocates dignity, justice and freedom. Not murder."

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the Justice Department would assist in the investigation into the shooting.

"Do not let this week precipitate a new normal in this country," Lynch told reporters in Washington.

POLICE CHIEF: 'Suspect killed by police bomb'

Dallas Police Chief David Brown confirmed a shooting suspect died yesterday due to the detonation of a police bomb.

Chief Brown said reports that the suspect had shot himself were not accurate.

“We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device for it to detonate where the suspect was,” he said.

“Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger, the suspect is deceased as a result of detonating the bomb.

US President Barack Obama said there could be no justification for the shooting attacks against police in Dallas. Photo: AAP

Fox4 in the US broadcast amateur video of a shootout that left a police officer dead. Photo: Fox4

“The report that the suspect killed himself is not accurate. He is deceased because of the detonation of the bomb.”

Chief Brown said the suspect was upset about Black Lives Matter and wanted to kill white police officers.

"The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter. He said he was upset about the recent police shootings. The suspect said he was upset at white people the suspect said he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."

Earlier, local media in Dallas reported a suspect engaged in a stand off with police in a garage is dead.

The man was one of four suspects identified by police in the aftermath of the sniper attack which saw 12 police shot, five killed and two members of the public injured.

He had earlier told police bombs had been planted around Dallas, according to Police Chief David Brown.

Chief Brown said said the man had told officers multiple bombs had been planted to hurt and kill police.

OBAMA: 'No justification' for deadly events in Dallas

US President Barack Obama says America has there can be 'no justification' for the deadly events in Dallas, sending his condolences to families of five slain police officers.'''

The US president delivered his short address from Poland, saying America had been 'horrified' by the shootings which have left five police officers dead and more wounded.

His comments came just a day after he addressed the deaths of two black men who were killed in separate police shootings earlier this week.

The deaths were the spark for the protests in Dallas.

"When incidents like this occur, there's a big chunk of our fellow citizenry that feels as if it's because of the colour of their skin, they are not being treated the same," Obama said on Thursday.

Related links

• Harrowing video shows hero cop taking on Dallas gunman

• The moment Dallas turned into a war zone

"When people say 'black lives matter,' that doesn't mean blue lives don't matter," Obama said, referring to police officers.

"That just means all lives matter."

A man identified immediately after the attacks has been released from custody.

Mark Hughes was identified as a suspect shortly after the attack. He has since been released from custody. Photo: Supplied

Police say Mark Hughes is longer a suspect.

An image of Mark Hughes, brother of Black Lives Matter organiser Corey Hughes, was released by police less than an hour after the attacks. In the image Mark Hughes was shown carrying at AR-15 assault rifle during the Dallas protests.

Gunshots ring out in downtown Dallas

The gunfight came after 11 police officers were shot by snipers during a rally against police brutality in the Texas city.

Five officers were killed when shooters struck at about 8:45pm local time on Thursday while protesters marched through the streets.

At least two people were taken into custody shortly after the attack. Another two people were taken for questioning after a police chase along a Dallas highway.

Television audiences in the US were shocked to see images of the attack broadcast live. In one clip, a killer is seen executing a police officer at point blank range.

The gunfire broke out just before the end of a protest over the recent fatal police shootings of black men in the US.

Dallas police had two in custody after officers were shot in downtown Dallas. Source: AP Photo/LM Otero

With the rally only announced on Wednesday, police are investigating how the attack came about so quickly.

Chief Brown said two snipers were behind the deadly gunfire. Police believe the attacks may have been co-ordinated.

He said the shooters fired on police from an elevated position, likely a parking garage where Dallas media outlets reported the heaviest police presence.

Protests have now broken out on the other side of the country, with hundreds pouring onto the streets of Oakland in California. Protesters have also assembled in Baton Rouge for the third straight day.

Identities of officers, injured mother revealed

One of five slain police officers has been identified as 43 year old Brent Thompson.

Brent Thomspon, 43, has been identified as the Dallas Area Rapid Transit officers killed in the attack. Photo: Supplied

Officer Thompson was identified not long after confirmation a fifth police officer had died following the violence in the Texas city.

The city's police association confirmed the death.

The civilian hurt in the attacks has been identified as Shetamia Taylor, who was trying to protect her children when she was shot.

Fox News reports Ms Taylor was marching with her four sons when the gunmen attacked.

One of the DART police officers shot in the attack has been named as Misty McBride.

Ms McBride's family says she was shot in the arm, breaking her shoulder, and shot in the abdomen before she dragged herself back to her police car for help.

She was then rushed to hospital where she is waiting to undergo surgery.

'Suspect' carrying assault rifle released from custody

Shortly after the attacks, Dallas police released an image of "a person of interest", who marched in the parade with a rifle.

The weapon was believed to be an AR-15 assault rifle.

Police released Mark Hughes at about 1am local time, declaring he was no longer a suspect.

“I just got out of the interrogation room for about 30 minutes with police officers lyin’ saying they had video of me shooting. which is a lie,” Mark Hughes told CBS11.

“(They said) that they have witnesses saying I shot a gun. which is a lie. I mean at the end of the day, the system is trying to get me.”

Mr Hughes is the brother of one of the Black Lives Matters organisers, Corey Hughes.

Mr Hughes his persecution was 'unrightly' and that he had received death threats since he was wrongly identified.

Earlier police said they were 'relatively certain' a man found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot would may have been one of the shooters.

Within 20 minutes, that man handed himself in to police.

According to some reports, he turned his weapon over to police immediately after gun fire rang out.

"Another alleged suspect was in a shootout with Dallas SWAT officers. That suspect is also in custody," Dallas Police said in a statement.

Police also confirmed a "suspicious package" was found near that second person. It comes after Police Chief Brown warned there were fears a bomb had been planted in downtown Dallas.

"A suspicious package was discovered near this suspect's location. The package is being secured by DPD bomb squad," he said.

Highway chase

Moments after the attack Dallas Police say an "individual carrying a camouflaged bag" was seen getting into a black Mercedes which fled the area at speed.

Dallas police have confirmed that the vehicle was chased along a highway and stopped. Both occupants of the vehicle are being questioned separate to the two people in custody.

"(The attackers) planned to injure and kill as many law enforcement officers as they could," Chief Brown said.

A Dallas policeman keeps watch on a street in downtown Dallas. Source: AP Photo

The gunfire broke out just before the end of a protest over the recent fatal police shootings of black men in the US.

With the rally only announced on Wednesday, police are investigating how the attack came about so quickly.

Chief Brown said two snipers were behind the deadly gunfire.

He said the shooters fired on police from an elevated position, likely a parking garage where Dallas media outlets reported the heaviest police presence.

allas police move to detain a driver after several police officers were shot in downtown Dallas. Source: AP Photo

Multiple videos have emerged showing the gunfire ring out through downtown Dallas as the crowds scatter, seeking cover.

Scores of police and security officers are seen with their weapons drawn and hunched behind vehicles.

A number of videos have been released across social media with bodies shown on the ground.

Thousand of protesters were marching across US cities to protest police brutality under Black Lives Matter banners following this week’s deadly shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Alton Sterling and Philando Castile

The seemingly unjustified killings of two black men at the hands of police this week have reignited simmering racial tensions across the US.

Mr Sterling was shot dead at point blank range by an officer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, just 48 hours before the last moments of Philando Castile were broadcast live on social media.

Critics argued Mr Sterling was incapacitated when he was shot dead and posed no risk to officers.

Secretly recorded video of the incident sparked a fresh wave a protests on Tuesday.

Just two days later, video was seen by millions showing the aftermath of Mr Castile's shooting.

In that video his partner Diamond 'Lavish' Reynolds can be heard telling the police officer he had killed the man for complying with a request to produce his drivers and firearms licenses.

The killings have drawn stern responses from President Barack Obama and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton

"Would this have happened if those passengers would have been white? I don't think it would have," Governor Dayton said.