ELEVEN cops have been shot – and at least four killed – at a rally in protest over the police shooting of unarmed black men.
The police officers – and one civilian – have been shot by at least two gunmen in "tactical gear" at the rally in Dallas, Texas, in the US.
The gunmen were armed with rifes and were in an "elevated" position – allowing them to "triangulate" their aim at the police.
Police believe the shooters may also have planted a bomb – or bombs.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said in a statement two snipers shot 11 officers – four of whom were killed.
One civilian was also injured in the shooting.
Police released a photo of a "person of interest" – pictured below.
Police are negotiating with a suspect in the El Centro parking garage.
The suspect has told police there are bombs "all over the place" in the car park – and he plans to kill more law enforcement officers.
The bomb squad is inspecting a "suspicious package" recovered from the scene.
A woman near the scene and two people in a Mercedes car – into one of the suspects reporteldy threw a camouflaged bag – have also been arrested.
A second "person of interest" – pictured above – has handed himself in.
Mr Brown added: "We also believe these suspects have threatened to plant a bomb in the downtown area.
"We have reached out to our federal law enforcement partners – the FBI and ATF – to help us search for both these suspects – or maybe there is more – and to do a very thorough seach of this area where we beieve there might be a bomb planted."
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said: "At 8.58pm our worst nightmare happened.
"Our Dallas public safety police department DART officers were fired upon by shooters.
"I'm sad to say we have deceased and it's a heart-breaking moment for the city of Dallas."
Update: pic.twitter.com/qBJe3q0EtN— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
Update: pic.twitter.com/ukWSZJeZo3— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
Video from the scene showed a heavy police presence and officers taking cover behind vehicles on the street.
It also showed crowds of hundreds of people starting to run as the sound of multiple gunshots rang out.
Some witnesses report the shooters were wearing bullet-proof vests and were armed with automatic rifles.
Witnesses report hearing several volleys of quick bursts of gunfire.
The shooters stood by as the rally passed them – then opened fire on officers.
They say the gunmen werre "strategic" – describing shots as "Tap, tap, pause. Tap, tap, pause."
TV footage showed the hunt for the suspect stretch throughout the downtown area – which includes hotels, restaurants, businesses and residential apartments.
The scene was chaotic – with helicopters hovering overhead and officers with automatic rifles on the street corners.
At least two of the injured police are reportedly in surgery.
The public transport system in the city was shut down.
About 800 people gathered at Belo Garden Park, in Dallas, where they began their march through downtown in protest of the shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Philando Castile, 32, was shot by police near St Paul, Minnesota, late on Wednesday.
His girlfriend posted live video on the internet of the bloody scene minutes afterward – which was widely viewed.
Castile's death occurred within a day of the shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Sterling was killed during an altercation with two white police officers.
Graphic video of that incident caused an outcry on social media.
The rally was coming to an end at about 9pm on Thursday local time – 3am British time – when the gun shots rang out.
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