Suspect who engaged in a stand-off with police has shot himself, say US media

Five US police officers have been killed and six others shot by snipers in Dallas last night during a protest over police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota this week.

One of the snipers, who had engaged in a stand-off with police in a commercial garage in downtown Dallas has shot himself, US media outlets have reported. Police have yet to confirm his death. There are at least three other suspects involved in the shooting. Two men and one woman are now in custody.

Many of the people who were taking part in the peaceful protest are still in downtown Dallas, as transport has been halted or delayed.

The attack was one of the worst mass shootings of police in US history.

Thursday night shooting

At least two snipers firing from “elevated positions” were suspected of carrying out the deadly shootings in downtown Dallas on Thursday night, according to the city’s police chief David Brown.

The attack brought chaos to the streets of the Texan city near the end of a “Black Lives Matter” demonstration. Heavily armed police rushed to the scene of the attack, while the Dallas police department issued a public call for information to help identify the suspects.

Gunshots rang out at around 9pm local time (3am Irish time) during the protest held over the shooting of black men in St Paul and Minnesota on Wednesday.

Video footage taken by bystanders showed panicked marchers running through the streets for cover and a barrage of gunfire echoing through the streets of Dallas.

One civilian, Shetamia Taylor (37), who was attending the protest with her sons, was shot in the leg but her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Gunfire exchanged

Mr Brown said in a press conference at about 12.40am local time (6.40am Irish time) on Thursday that police were exchanging gunfire and negotiating with a suspected gunman in a stand-off on the first-floor of the El Centro garage in downtown Dallas.

The suspect was not co-operating and told negotiators he intends to hurt more law enforcement officials, Mr Brown said.

The suspect told negotiators that “the end is coming,” that he was going to “hurt and kill” more police officers and that there were “bombs all over the place, in this garage and in downtown,” the police chief told reporters.