Broken window: A Dallas Police photo shows a bullet hole in the window of the Texas force's police headquarters (AFP Photo/Handout)

Snipers shot and presumably killed a man Saturday after he attacked the police headquarters in Dallas and planted bombs in a dramatic rampage in the Texas city, though there were no known links to terrorism.

Officers from the Dallas Police Department's specialized SWAT unit shot the suspect through the front windshield of the armored van he used in his attack, then shortly afterward opened fire on the man, Police Chief David Brown said.

Police sent in a bomb disposal robot to examine the vehicle and determine whether the suspect was dead.

"After the robot clears the van and we're able to identify the deceased, what we believe is the deceased, inside the van," technicians will collect evidence, Brown said.

The apparent culmination of a stunning night of violence began just after midnight when a van, described by witnesses as an armored vehicle, rammed into police squad cars at the headquarters and someone inside opened fire.

Police had earlier suggested there may have been up to four suspects, but Brown said police now believed that only one suspect shot from different angles and positions. 

Brown said there was no connection to terrorism and that the incident stemmed from an issue surrounding custody of the suspect's child.

"He doesn't show to be in our databases on any terrorism watch list or anything like that," Brown said. "So it may have just been a rant."

The suspect identified himself as James Boulware, but police were not immediately able to confirm his identity.

The Dallas Police Association, which represents Dallas officers, tweeted that the suspect "had three family violence cases against him. (He) was very disgruntled against law enforcement and the criminal justice system."

Police 'blessed' to have survived -

The suspect also planted at least one pipe bomb, which detonated as a bomb robot tried to move it. No one was injured, but photographs published by police showed several vehicles were damaged in the blast.

Brown earlier said other pipe bombs had been found in one of four duffle bags that were "dispersed throughout the front and side of police headquarters."

"I believe we're blessed that our officers survived this ordeal," Brown said.

"There are bullet holes in squad cars where officers were sitting. There are bullet holes in the front lobby where staff was sitting."

He added that "we believe this suspect meant to kill officers and took time to discharge that weapon multiple times to accomplish their wanting to harm our officers."

Following the gunfight, a chase ensued to Hutchins, a nearby suburb south of the city, where officers surrounded the vehicle and more shots were traded. Several bullets hit police cars but no officers were injured.

At 4:35 am (0935 GMT), following attempts to negotiate with the suspect, snipers used a powerful .50-caliber rifle to disable the van's engine block, then shot the suspect about half an hour later.

In November, police shot and killed a man in the Texas state capital Austin after he opened fire at several buildings including the police headquarters. (dmr)

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