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A police officer seeks witnesses to the shooting outside of the Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. Image Credit: REUTERS

WASHINGTON: Two suspects who may have been carrying bombs were shot dead late on Sunday, and a police officer was wounded, outside a Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) art contest in Texas, organisers said.

The American Freedom Defense Initiative organised the event featuring far-right populist Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who has been outspoken against Muslims.

"#garlandshooting cop shot - two suspects dead, awaiting bomb squad for possible explosives at our free speech event #sharia," political activist and AFDI co-founder Pamela Geller wrote on Twitter.

Wilders also commented on the incident, saying: "Shots fired at Garland Mohammad cartoon free speech event. I just left the building after speeching. #garlandshooting."

SWAT officials told ABC television news affiliate WFAA that the two male suspects drove up and opened fire on the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, near Dallas, which was hosting the exhibit and cartoon contest billed as a "free speech" event.

The police officer was shot in the leg and was rushed to hospital, where he was expected to recover, according to local CBS news affiliate DFW.

Police were searching the area for a vehicle containing explosives.

A local police-themed blog that posts information coming from public scanner radio said a suspect had been spotted at a nearby store with a hand grenade, and that the expo center and surrounding businesses were evacuated.

The FBI reportedly activated an electromagnetic pulse near Garland, Texas, centre to activate anything that sends or receives an electronic transmission while investigating possible bomb threat.

CBS then reported that a blast was heard near Garland, Texas, centre after FBI bomb squad used electric pulse to detect bombs.

Some Tweeps have attacked both Geller and Wilders over the event.

 

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Political blogger Pamela Geller, American Freedom Defense Initiative's Houston-based founder, speaks in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Image Credit: Reuters
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Garland police spokesman Joe Harn (C) addresses the media near the shooting in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Image Credit: REUTERS
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A police officer stands near a vehicle after a shooting outside the conference in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Image Credit: Reuters
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A picture courtesy of Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders shows members of a US SWAT team posing for a photo with Geert Wilders (C). The photo was taken by a local police officer with the mobile phone of the politician who released it via Twitter. Two suspects who may have been carrying bombs were shot dead May 3, 2015 and a police officer was wounded outside the cartoon contest in Texas. Image Credit: AFP
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A police officer directs the evacuation of attendees of the Art Exhibit and Contest, after a shooting outside the Curtis Culwell Center where the event was held in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in Garland, Texas, near Dallas, were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. Image Credit: REUTERS/Mike Stone
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