[News] Club Q Colorado shooting: Suspect held after five killed in attack at nightclub

[Maestro]

[SOURCE]

At least five people have been killed and 18 injured after a gunman opened fire inside a gay club in the US state of Colorado on Saturday night.

A suspect is in police custody and is being treated for injuries. Two "heroic" people in the club subdued the attacker, police say.

Club Q, in Colorado Springs, wrote on Facebook that it was "devastated by the senseless attack" on its community.

US President Joe Biden said Americans "cannot and must not tolerate hate".

Police asked people to be patient while they worked to identify victims and finalise the number of casualties, adding that some people had taken themselves to hospital.

Officers received an initial emergency call about an active shooter at 23:57 (06:57 GMT) on Saturday, they said.

The suspect was found inside the club. Two firearms were found at the scene, and the attacker is thought to have used a long rifle.

Police did not suggest a motive for the shooting but said the investigation would consider whether it was a hate crime, and if more than one person was involved.

A fire department spokesman said casualties had been transported to hospitals very quickly because of training for such events.

The FBI in nearby Denver said it was assisting local police with the incident.