Five officers DEAD after SNIPERS shoot 11 police at protest in US

The shooting comes after two black Americans were shot by police in separate incidents

Five police officers were shot dead and six wounded by snipers who targeted them "ambush style" during rallies in Dallas to protest against the fatal police shooting of two black men this week. 

One suspect has reportedly shot himself during a standoff with police in a garage after warning there are bombs scattered all over Dallas.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown claimed the shooters “planned to injure and kill as many law enforcement officers as they could”.

Officials also said the attackers have threatened to place a bomb in the nearby area. 

Police said two snipers in elevated positions shot 11 officers, killing three, in what appeared to be a coordinated attack. Some of the victims were shot in the back.

Two more officers later died in the shooting which is the largest attack on police officers since 9/11. 

The first police officer killed has been named as Brent Thompson. 

The first police officer killed has been named as Brent Thompson

Police are currently taking part in an “intensive search” for more suspects

A police officer tries to calm protestors following the sniper shooting

Shots were fired from “elevated positions” in downtown Dallas during the protest, with witnesses claiming as many as 20 shots could be heard before they were asked to leave the area.

One shooter, wearing tactical gear and a bullet proof vest and armed with a rifle, surrounded by police in a nearby parking garage shot himself dead following a two hour siege. 

The gunman told police "the end is coming" and claimed there are bombs scattered across the city. 

Homeland security are on the scene while police officers take part in an “intensive search” for more suspects.

A bomb squad unit is investigating a suspicious package found near one of the suspect's locations.

Speaking during the siege, Police Chief Brown said: “The gunman has told officers that the end is coming and he is going to hurt and kill more of us.

"He said there's bombs all over the place in the garage and downtown.

"We're being very careful in our tactics so we don't put any of our officers in harm's way. 

"We still don't have a complete comfort level that we have all the suspects."

A second "person of interest" had turned himself in, they said, although there was no word on the arrest of the second sniper. Brown also said no motive for the shooting had been uncovered yet.

One witness claimed that the gunmen waited for the protest to march past before opening fire on officers.

Police are also questioning the driver and passengers in a Mercedes that was pulled over after the vehicle sped off down a downtown street with a man who threw a camouflaged bag inside the back of the car.

There are three other people in custody, two from inside the Mercedes and another woman detained after a shootout with Dallas SWAT officers near a downtown garage.

The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction over downtown Dallas after the shooting. Facebook also activated safety checks for its users.

Early on in the operation to stop the attack police released a photo of a man they said was person of interest – reportedly named as Mark Hughes – as he walked down the street carrying a rifle. 

Police released a photo of Mark Hughes, who has been released without charge, during the shooting

After his photo was released by Dallas Police, Mr Hughes flagged down a police officer and was taken in for questioning. 

He has been released without charge. 

A man identifying himself as his brother claimed Hughes handed over his gun to officers when the attack began.

A suspect package was found near the sniper's location, and is currently being secured by the bomb squad.

President Barack Obama, who is in Poland for a NATO summit, is being kept updated on the shooting. 

The shots were fired in downtown Dallas during the protest

Describing the carnage, witness Devante Odom, 21, said: ”Everyone just started running."

"We lost touch with two of our friends just trying to get out of there."

Dallas police confirmed their fourth fatality, tweeting "with heavy hearts, we are devastated to report a fourth officer has been killed". 

Local resident Carlos Harris said the shots "were strategic".

He said: "It was tap tap pause. Tap tap pause."

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said: "Our worst nightmare has happened.

"It is a heartbreaking morning to lose these four officers who served our citizens.”

Thousands took to the streets across America to protest after two black Americans were shot dead by police in separate incidents that were caught on camera.

Dozens of protesters have been arrested in New York and roads have been blocked by marches in Chicago.

Street seller Alton Sterling, 37, was pinned to the ground and shot in the chest outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Thursday.

Philando Castile was shot four times the day before by an officer during a traffic stop as he sat in the front seat of a car.

***WARNING: Videos below contain language some readers may find offensive***

PERSON OF INTEREST POLICE BY DALLAS POLICE SOUGHT IN SHOOTING 4 POLICE OFFICERS

Activists initially planned the rally after shooting of Mr Sterling

The rally was planned as a peaceful protest in the memory of Mr Sterling in the wake of a string of high profile shootings of African Americans at the hand of the US police force.

Event organiser Rev Dr Jeff Hood said: “It is important to allow people to grieve first and foremost.

"Then we want to create a space for anger and rage so people can get that out."

The Washington Post said Castile was at least the 506th person and 123rd black American shot and killed by police so far in 2016, according to a database it has set up to track such deaths.

President Obama described the killings as tragedies. 

He said: "All of us as Americans should be troubled by these shootings, because these are not isolated incidents. They're symptomatic of a broader set of racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system."