Scene: Bikers lay dead by their motorcycles in the parking lot of Twin Peaks Bar and Grill in Waco, Texas, just after midday on Sunday
Shoot out: What started as a physical fight shortly after midday in Twin Peak restaurant rapidly escalated to involve chains, clubs, knives and gunfire, police said. The fight spilled into the parking lot where a SWAT team shot dead at least one biker and surrounded the rest
A biker sits next to what appears to be a covered body after several people were killed during the shoot-out
Police believe five gangs were involved in the shoot-out which has led to restaurants closing across the city
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara says the nine dead were members of the Bandidos or Cossacks gangs.
Based on their leathers, it appears the Pirados, the Veterans (one sitting), and the Leathernecks (one standing, center) were involved
Panic: Families scrambled and some hid in the freezer of the diner as more than 100 rounds were fired
The recruitment event was hosted by the restaurant but despite police fears of conflict, management wouldn't let officers in
Witnesses described the scene in the quiet commercial shopping strip as a war zone
By late Sunday afternoon two groups of gunmen were sat unceremoniously on the tarmac at opposite ends of the parking lot
More than 100 weapons have been confiscated, and three armed individuals that arrived later have been arrested
Parts of downtown were on lockdown Sunday night and officials could be seen stopping and questioning motorcycle riders
Paramedics at the scene of the brutal shoot-out that involved the use of more than 100 weapons, according to police
Families were shaken as they left the crime scene which broke out at lunch time on Sunday
Jay Patel, Twin Peaks spokesman, said in a statement that the diner has 'ongoing and positive communications with the police', adding: 'We are horrified by the criminal, violent acts that occurred outside of our Waco restaurant today.
'We share in the community's trauma. Our priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our customers and employees, and we consider the police our partners in doing so.
'Our management team has had ongoing and positive communications with the police and we will continue to work with them as we all want to keep violent crime out of our businesses and community. We will continue to cooperate with the police as they investigate this terrible crime.'
Swanton dismissed the suggestion of cooperation as nonsense.
After 15 minutes, the fight spilled into the parking lot of the Central Market Place, where some were shot dead as they mounted their motorcycles.
Outside, officers managed to detain the gang members at gunpoint. By late Sunday afternoon the two groups of gunmen were sat unceremoniously on the tarmac at opposite ends of the parking lot surrounded by armed police.
However the scene was still being described as 'active but under control' at around 5pm as deputies warned individuals were still arriving with weapons.
More than 100 weapons have been confiscated, and three armed individuals that arrived later were arrested.
Swanton said: ‘We are prepared to deal with those individuals if they come to Waco. We are not horse playing. If we have the opportunity to put those individuals in jail, we will arrest them and keep them there.’
Local media reported numerous bikers were arrested at Waco Convention Center after the incident.
Police refuse to say what is happening at the Waco Convention Center but numerous people are being detained, local media reports
Police warned locals to stay away from the area, which law enforcement has been monitoring for weeks in fear of conflict
A heavily armed police officer at the scene of the shoot-out, which left nine bikers dead and a scene of total carnage