Two killed in attack during July 4 celebrations in California beach city

Police officers stand guard at the crime scene where police say two people were killed and three others injured in Huntington Beach, California (Eugene Garcia/AP)

Two people were killed and three others injured in an attack that broke out during a neighbourhood July 4 gathering in a US beach city, police said Friday.

The county coroner removed two bodies from the crime scene at Huntington Beach on Friday morning, in a residential neighbourhood lined with palm trees.