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by Zhang Yongxing
HOUSTON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- It was really a tragedy and a devastating night for the U.S. state of Texas as gunmen ambushed the Dallas police during a protest on Thursday night over police shootings at black Americans.
The nightmare started around 8:45 p.m. local time (1445 GMT) when protesters were marching along a street in downtown Dallas, northern Texas. At least two snipers with rifles opened fire on 11 police officers, leaving five of them dead and six others injured.
Dallas police chief David Brown told the press that the officers were shot in an "ambush style" with some being shot in the back.
"Give our officers strength to catch these suspects and bring them to justice tonight," he said.
A young black protester told Xinhua that they heard gun shots during the downtown march and the crowd scattered, seeking shelters.
"What a horrified night it is," he said.
A young girl said that when the gunfire broke out, she and her boyfriend immediately ran out of home to see what was going on. They found people screaming and running for safety.
"The scene was chaotic, with helicopters hovering overhead and police officers with automatic rifles on the street corners. A lot of armed police officers also were arriving for reinforcement," she said.
According to the Dallas police, a suspect engaged in a shootout on the second floor of a parking garage told police "the end is near" and that more officers would be killed as there were bombs planted throughout downtown Dallas.
Near his location, a police bomb squad worked on a suspicious package but found no explosives.
Police have tracked suspicious vehicles and closed down the downtown area in search for suspects, unsure about capture of them all. Chaos are expected to last through Friday morning.
It is reported at least one suspect has been arrested, while another one has given himself up.
The incident marks the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. It was a night of horror unlike any in recent memory in this city.
"It's a heartbreaking moment for the city of Dallas," Mayor Mike Rawlings said, "Our worst nightmare happened."
In Houston, the largest city in the Lone Star state, the police department said in a statement that their thoughts and prayers were with Dallas Police for a speedy recovery for the officers injured.
"While the events in Dallas do not have a direct impact in Houston, we will monitor the situation. We are confident those who choose to protest here will do so in a peaceful manner and we encourage them to exercise their First Amendment rights (of allowing people to have guns)," Houston police said.
Because of the loose gun control in the United States, a lot of shooting incidents take place every year in the country, as in the Republican-controlled Texas, which strongly advocates people's right of gun possession.
In addition, the state allows handguns carried openly beginning this year, and guns to be carried in public colleges from August.
