2 Police Officers Shot At in US' Philadelphia During 4th of July Celebrations

Both officers were in stable condition, as per local media.

Two police officers were shot in United States' Philadelphia on Tuesday, 5 July, as thousands of people celebrated a Fourth of July concert and fireworks show.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Screengrab/Tyler Doudrick)

Two police officers were shot in United States' Philadelphia on Tuesday, 5 July, as thousands of people celebrated a Fourth of July concert and fireworks show.

The incident occurred near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Both officers were in stable condition, CBS3 Philadelphia reported, citing the police department. The police is searching for the shooter.

The city Office of Emergency Management advised on Twitter to avoid the area.

"There is a security incident on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Please follow public safety instructions and avoid area. Details to follow," its tweet read.

Philadelphia Police also posted a tweet that read, "For those looking to reunite with loved ones on the Parkway, please meet at 1901 Vine Street in front of the Free Library of Philadelphia. All others, please avoid the area."

A video that is being widely shared on social media shows a huge number of people allegedly running away the shooter.

Earlier in the day on Monday, in Chicago, a gunman on a rooftop in Highland Park opened fire on families at a Fourth of July parade, killing six and injuring dozens.

Eola fireworks show in Orlando

Firecrackers thrown into the crowd celebrating the Fourth of July in Orlando caused a scare amongst people, causing them to run in panic with some jumping into the water at the Fountain at Lake Eola.

12 people were injured in the chaos, Orlando Police said. The fireworks began around 9.45 pm on Monday.

“Out of nowhere we saw people running, and then we heard (what we thought were) shots. We heard it. It wasn’t lining up with the fireworks. They were obviously something else," one witness was quoted as saying by ClickOrlando.

The police however, are certain that there were no gunshots involved.

"We believe that these were fireworks that were set off (by individuals) in the crowd at the same time as the main firework display was on. This caused people to run. They believed these were gunshots. Of course, people started running with everything that’s going on," Chief Deputy Eric Smith told News 6.

(With inputs from News6, ClickOrlando, CBS3 Philadelphia and Reuters.)