Gunmen killed after Prophet Muhammad cartoon venue attack

Two gunmen were killed after opening fire on a security officer outside a contest for cartoon depictions of Prophet Muhammad and a bomb squad was called in to search their vehicle as a precaution, authorities said.

The men drove up Sunday night as the contest near Dallas was due to end and began shooting at a security officer, the City of Garland said. Police officers returned fire, killing the men.

The cartoon contest was hosted by the New York-based American Freedom Defense Initiative, which offered an award of $10,000 for the best cartoon.

ABC News cited a senior FBI official in reporting that one of the gunmen, a resident of a Phoenix, Arizona, apartment that was being searched, was known to authorities.

Geert Wilders, a Dutch lawmaker known for his outspoken criticism of Islam, received several standing ovations as he quoted former US president Ronald Reagan and Texas founding father Sam Houston, in his speech at the event.

“Muhammad fought and terrorized people with the swords. Today, here in Garland, we fight Muhammad and his followers with the pen. And the pen, the drawings, will prove mightier than the sword.”