As the Dallas shootings send shockwaves across the globe, stars including Kelly Rowland, Montel Williams and DJ Khaled are have taken to social media to express their shock over the killings of five police officers, marking the deadliest single attack on US law enforcement officers since 9/11 in 2001.

The Texas city descended into chaos in the early hours of Friday (8 July) after snipers shot 11 officers "from an elevated position" during a protest over recent deaths of Alton Sterling and Phiando Castile at the hands of police.

More about Dallas shooting

The #BlackLivesMatter movement began following the acquittal of George Zimmerman after teenager Trayvon Martin was shot dead in 2013.

In an Instagram post, Rowland shared civil-rights' activist Marin Luther King's quote: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Beneath the image, she added: "11 Officers shot, 4 killed WE HAVE TO BE BETTER! PRAY FOR PEACE!"

Talk-show host Montel Williams reacted to the breaking news, tweeting: "Prayers with #Dallas - 10 cops shot, whomever the shooter, whatever the reason is an act of terrorism- period."

11 Officers shot, 4 killed WE HAVE TO BE BETTER! PRAY FOR PEACE!

A photo posted by kellyrowland (@kellyrowland) on

Hip hop pundit Charlamagne Tha God faced backlash and was branded 'insensitive' after he questioned whether the media would cover the deaths of the police officers the same way as the Sterling and Castile.

Dr Phil tweeted his thoughts.

Three people are in custody following the shooting at El Centro college with the fourth now dead following a stand-off which saw them "exchanging gunfire with authorities", according to US media.

Police said the suspect was non co-operative with negotiators – Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters the man warned the "end is coming and he's going to hurt and kill more of us [officers]" – before shooting himself dead.

Beyonce Drake