Two armed suspects believed to be carrying explosives have reportedly been shot dead after opening fire outside an anti-Muslim art exhibition in Dallas.
Police have said an officer was also fired at outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, during a 'family event' where caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad were being displayed.
The building was placed on lockdown by a SWAT team with hundreds of attendees still inside after multiple gunshots were heard.
No one was allowed to leave as surrounding businesses, including a Wal-Mart and Taco Bell, were evacuated.
Two suspects were said to have approached the area, possibly with explosives, before firing at the officer.
The attack unfolded shortly after Dutch member of parliament and leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders, had delivered his keynote speech.
In 2009, he sparked controversy for showing a controversial film which linked the Koran to terrorism and has previously said the Netherlands is being taken over by a 'tsunami of Islamisation'.
Pamela Geller, the organizer, told CBS 11 from inside the building: 'I heard officers talking of possible explosions in backpacks and the car. There was talk of a grenade at the nearby Wal-Mart.'
The event was set up by the American Freedom Defense Initiative and had been described by opponents as an attack on Islam.
The organizers believed they were exercising their freedom of expression.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the contest, which was offering a top prize of $10,000, had received about 350 entries depicting Muhammad.
Visual representation of the prophet is deemed extremely offensive by Muslims.
The officer, who was shot in the leg, is expected to survive.
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