[Benjamin]

Police in the US state of Texas say nine people have been killed and at least 100 arrested after a shootout between rival biker gangs in Waco.

The incident happened at the Twin Peaks Sports Bar and Grill in a shopping area called the Central Texas Market Place.

Police said eight had died at the scene and a ninth in hospital - all were bikers. At least 18 others were hurt.

One witness quoted by the Waco Tribune-Herald said the car park of the restaurant resembled "a war zone".

"There were maybe 30 guns being fired in the parking lot, maybe 100 rounds," Michelle Logan said.

Diners at the Twin Peaks cafe said they and the staff had locked themselves in a freezer room for safety before being escorted off the premises by armed police.

Waco police said the shooting happened shortly after midday when rival gangs got into a fight, apparently over parking space near the restaurant. Up to five gangs were involved.

Police spokesman Sgt W Patrick Swanton said the fight started with punches and then escalated to chains, clubs, knives and finally firearms.

Scene near the shooting in Waco, Texas. 17 May 2015
Police sealed off the area around the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco
A group of motorcyclists with police in the parking lot of Twin Peaks, Waco.

Police stood guard near a group of bikers in the car park of the restaurant
"This is probably one of the most gruesome crime scenes I've ever seen in my 34 years of law enforcement,'' he said.

Police knew the meeting was going on, and officers moved in as soon as the shooting started.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara later said all nine who were killed were members of the Banditos or Cossacks gangs, according to the Associated Press news agency.

"These are very dangerous hostile biker gangs," Sgt Swanton said. "A lot of innocent people could have been injured today."

One witness said he and his family had just finished their lunch and walked into the parking lot when they heard gunshots.

"We crouched down in front of our pick-up truck because that was the only cover we had," the witness - who asked not to be named - was quoted as saying.

Sgt Swanton said there were concerns that groups involved in the shooting may have moved to other locations in and around Waco.

Several nearby roads were closed, and police asked residents to avoid the area until an all-clear was issued.

Waco police said no officers had been injured in the shooting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32776280

[Ammi]

..I just read this and was about to post it, Ben...just so, so silly and a pointless waste of lives...at least it doesn't sound as though there were any deaths of people not involved though...

[Benjamin]

Yeah it is such a waste of so many lives. But luckily, as you said, no innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire.

[Ammi]

..and police officers as well..'we're in a gang, we hate that gang and they hate us, this is a really good reason to extinguish lives..'...and then our families will just have to live with their pain for the rest of their lives but at least they will know that we had a good reason to die and will be proud of us...

[arista]

This Fight had been brewing for some time.

8 or 9 Dead

Could have been far worse

[Crimson Dynamo]

drug wars

[Crimson Dynamo]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/W...304043711.html

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/W...304043711.html

...it paints an horrific and terrifying scene for the police officers and any bystanders, doesn't it...just total chaos and slaughter really...

[Crimson Dynamo]

its the police I feel sorry for and the folks at that car park

jesus wept

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

its the police I feel sorry for and the folks at that car park

jesus wept

..yeah I thought the voice of the police officer in the video was quite shaky and he was obviously in shock ..and for the bar/restaurant staff, wow..to witness something like that, almost a warzone situation..?..also I feel so sorry for the families of the dead, just so pointless...