Twenty people have reportedly been killed and more than 100 left injured after a mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas.
A gunman opened fire from the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino with hundreds of shots reportedly fired over several minutes. Attendees of the event were forced to immediately flee the Route 91 Harvest Festival at around 22.30 (05.30 GMT).
It is believed now that the police neutralised the assailant, who was a resident of the Las Vegas area, from inside the hotel venue.
At this time we do not believe there are any more shooters. More information to come shortly from @Sheriff_LVMPD.
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) 2 October 2017
“We do have a suspect down” police confirm during latest update on #LasVegas shooting, where there are “numerous victims” pic.twitter.com/79iP8uMVbf
— Sky News (@SkyNews) 2 October 2017
Police are also reportedly hunting the shooter’s female accomplice, an Asian woman called Marilou Danley, who is believed to be his roommate.
Following the news of the shooting, a number of eyewitnesses have shared videos of what appeared to be gunfire. Artists performing at the festival also claimed to have heard gunfire.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department took to Twitter to share updates. They wrote: “We’re investigating reports of an active shooter near/around Mandalay Bay Casino. Asking everyone to please avoid the area. #LVMPDnews”
We’re investigating reports of an active shooter near/around Mandalay Bay Casino. Asking everyone to please avoid the area. #LVMPDnews
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) 2 October 2017
Inbound and outbound flights have been temporarily halted from the Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport in the wake of the incident.
An eyewitness, Bryan Heifner, told CNN how he witnessed the incident from his hotel window opposite the Mandalay Bay resort. He said: “Mostly I heard the shots, just so many shots — I just thought it was a semi braking with the air brakes, but then I went downstairs and saw people running and looking for family. I immediately went back to my room, locked the door, turned the lights off.”