Two Armed Men open Fire at Security personnel outside Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest

On Sunday, two gunmen opened fire at security deployed outside provoking contest for cartoon depictions of Prophet Muhammad. In the incident, the firemen were killed.

The event was almost about to end and at that time, the men drove up to the Curtis Culwell Center in the Dallas suburb of Garland. They started shooting at the security officer. In return, Garland police officers started firing in which both the men were killed.

Garland police spokesman Joe Harn said that for now, it is not known that whether the shooting was done in response to the event, a contest organized by the New York-based American Freedom Defense Initiative. In the initiative, the one who has made the best cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad would get $10,000.

Harn said that the authorities concerned were searching for the gunmen's vehicle for explosives. "Because of the situation of what was going on today and the history of what we've been told has happened at other events like this, we are considering their car (is) possibly containing a bomb", affirmed Harn.

The drawings at the Texas event are considered as insulting by many followers of Islam. In fact, it has even led to violence around the world. According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, even a respectful one is considered blasphemous.

The event was held at the Curtis Culwell Center and after the shooting, the place was evacuated and also, some surrounding businesses. The evacuation was lifted after many hours. People were not aware of any ongoing threat and area around the center remained blocked late into the night.

Police helicopters circled the area and bomb squads worked on the car. The wounded security officer has treated and released from a local hospital.