A gunman has shot and wounded at least nine people and killed an as yet unknown number of others at a busy mall north of Dallas.

Iran Press/America: Multiple people were shot, some fatally, at a mall near Dallas by a gunman who authorities believe was acting alone - and who is now dead - and at least nine victims were transported to trauma facilities, officials said Saturday, CNN reported.

Authorities in Allen, Texas, responded to the shooting at an outlet mall Saturday afternoon, with ATF personnel on the scene at Allen Premium Outlets.

The gunman – whom authorities said acted alone – was killed by a police officer after he began firing outside on Saturday afternoon outside the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, the city’s police chief Brian Harvey said at a press conference.

Every year thousands of people lose their lives or get wounded by gunshot attacks. Based on official statistics there are around 270 to 300 million guns in the US, which is almost one gun for every American. 219