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Las Vegas shooting: At least 58 dead at Mandalay Bay Hotel Las Vegas shooting: At least 58 dead at Mandalay Bay Hotel
(about 2 hours later)
At least 58 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert.At least 58 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert.
A gunman, named as 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel towards an open-air music festival attended by 22,000.A gunman, named as 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel towards an open-air music festival attended by 22,000.
He killed himself as police stormed the room where 10 guns were found.He killed himself as police stormed the room where 10 guns were found.
Investigators have found no link to international terrorism, despite a claim from so-called Islamic State.Investigators have found no link to international terrorism, despite a claim from so-called Islamic State.
FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse told a news conference: "We have determined at this point no connection to an international terrorist organisation." Live updates on Las Vegas mass shooting
Islamic State (IS) had claimed to be behind the attack, saying that Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago.
But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.
In an address from the White House, President Donald Trump described the attack as "pure evil".In an address from the White House, President Donald Trump described the attack as "pure evil".
He praised the efforts of the emergency services, saying their "miraculous" speed saved lives, and announced he would be visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday.He praised the efforts of the emergency services, saying their "miraculous" speed saved lives, and announced he would be visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history. How did the attack unfold?
Paddock's motives remain unclear. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a "lone wolf" attack. The final shows of the three-day Route 91 country music festival were in full swing when the gunman struck.
"We have no idea what his belief system was," he said. Thousands were enjoying a performance by top-billing singer Jason Aldean when the first of several bursts of automatic gunfire rang out - hundreds of shots, witnesses say. That was late on Monday night - 22:08 local time (05:08 GMT on Monday).
A police statement said the shooting began at 22:08 local time on Sunday (05:08 GMT on Monday). Paddock came from the small town of Mesquite, some 60 miles (100 km) north-east of Las Vegas, and had resided in the hotel since 28 September. Hundreds of concert-goers scrambled for cover, flattening themselves against the ground, rushing for the exits or helping others to escape as Paddock sprayed the site from his high vantage point.
Police in Mesquite have searched his premises and recovered a number of weapons. But they say he had not crossed paths with the police in the past. A second property has also been searched. "One man had blood all over him and that's when I knew something was seriously wrong," Mike Thompson from London, told the BBC.
Las Vegas police say the number of people injured now stands at 515.
Among those killed was an off-duty police officer.
Earlier, police announced they were seeking a woman, Marilou Danley, in connection with the shooting.
In his latest update, Sheriff Lombardo said she had now been located outside the United States and was not thought to have played any role.
Marilou Danley is believed to have lived with Paddock, and Sheriff Lombardo said he used some of her identity documents to check in to the hotel.
'Attack will stun America'
By the BBC's James Cook, in Las Vegas
This has been a mass shooting which has shocked Las Vegas - it has stunned this city. It is very clear that it will be an event which will stun the USA too, a country in which, regrettably, such mass shootings - even if on a lesser scale - are not uncommon.
As to why the gunman may have carried out this attack, there is no indication of motive at this stage. He was said to have had a large arsenal, a huge number of weapons in that hotel room, which police finally stormed using explosives.
As to why he would have set himself up there in that way, to do as he did, it is just so difficult to fathom.
Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were fired.
Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos posted on social media.
Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the scene remained on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut.
People sheltered in hotels, restaurants and at Las Vegas McCarran airport.
A witness, Mike Thompson from London, told the BBC that he saw people running in total panic.
"One man had blood all over him and that's when I knew something was seriously wrong.
"People were running and there was chaos.""People were running and there was chaos."
Concert-goer Mike McGarry told Reuters he lay on top of his children when the shots rang out. Concert-goer Mike McGarry, who survived, told Reuters he lay on top of his children when the shots rang out.
"They're 20, I'm 53. I lived a good life," he said."They're 20, I'm 53. I lived a good life," he said.
They survived. Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the scene were placed on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut.
Some flights were diverted after news of the incident emerged. Aldean, who was rushed off-stage, shared his reaction on Instagram.
The country music festival had been taking place since Friday at several hotels on the Las Vegas strip.
Singer Jason Aldean, who was rushed off stage when the shooting started, shared on Instagram that he was safe but heartbroken and did not know what to say.
"Tonight has been beyond horrific," he wrote."Tonight has been beyond horrific," he wrote.
"It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night." Las Vegas police say the number of people injured stands at 515.
What do we know of the gunman?
Stephen Paddock, from a community of senior citizens in the small town of Mesquite north-east of Las Vegas, booked into the hotel on 28 September, police say.
His motives for carrying out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history remain a mystery. Some investigators have suggested psychological issues, but there is no confirmation of this.
His brother, Eric, is dumbfounded that he acted this way.
Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a "lone wolf" attack.
"We have no idea what his belief system was," he said.
So-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed to be behind the attack, saying that Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago.
But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.
FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse told a news conference: "We have determined at this point no connection to an international terrorist organisation."
IS's claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas attack is very unusual in that the perpetrator's profile does not fit that of supporters or "soldiers" that the group has claimed in the past, writes Mina al-Lami, who monitors jihadist groups for the BBC.
If true, his suicide would be deemed wholly "un-Islamic", she adds.
Jihadist suicides involve the assailant blowing himself up in order to kill those around him.
The investigation continues to gather pace, with searches at Paddocks' Mesquite home, where more weapons were found, and a second property.
Paddock lived in Mesquite with Marilou Danley. Police have interviewed her but say she does not appear to have been involved as she was out of the country. They are hoping to speak to her again.
Police say he used some of her identity documents to check in to the Mandalay Bay.
Who are the victims?
The authorities have yet to confirm the identities of any of the 58 killed.
Jordan McIldoon, 23, from British Columbia in Canada, has been identified as a victim of the attack by CBC News.
A nurse, Sonny Melton, of Big Sandy, Tennessee, has been named as another victim by The Jackson Sun newspaper.
In a Facebook post, his wife, Dr Heather Gulish Melton, said she "lost my true love and knight in shining armor. I appreciate the prayers but I just need some time."
An off-duty Las Vegas police officer was another of those who died.
'Mass shootings like a plague'
By the BBC's James Cook, in Las Vegas
The scenes which played out in this stunned city were at once frantically urgent and wearily familiar.
When gunfire rings out, Americans know the drill. Run.
They fled from a gunman who left a city in chaos.
For a time, Las Vegas looked and felt like a war zone. Hospitals were overwhelmed. There were not enough ambulances. A plea for blood donations echoed across the airwaves.
And now the mourning, the relief, the tears, the elation, the grief and a hundred other emotions are barely beginning.
Doctors are still battling to save lives.
For a Western democracy, the United States has seen an astonishing amount of horror like this.
But even for this country what happened here is carnage on a different scale.
America's mass shooting disease now feels like a plague.
What gun laws does Nevada have?
Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the United States.Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the United States.
People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner.People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner.
Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately.Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately.
Are you in Las Vegas? Have you been affected by the incident? If it's safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Las Vegas? Have you been affected by the incident? If it's safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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