USA: Shooting in downtown Seattle, reports of casualties
According to local reports, at least six people were injured, their condition is unclear. "We heard at least seven or eight shots," eyewitnesses told at a food festival in the northwestern city. Footage from the scene showed one person being handcuffed.
Gunshots were heard overnight (between Sunday and Monday) in Seattle in the northwestern USA. According to initial reports, about six people were injured, including a child. The shooting took place around 18:00 local time at the Seattle Center, an event complex that hosted the "Bite of Seattle" food festival over the weekend, according to a report in the "Seattle Times".
Eyewitnesses reported hearing "seven or eight" shots. A statement from the Seattle Police Department read:
"Police are investigating a shooting. There are multiple victims. Shots were fired at the Seattle Center. More details to follow. Please avoid the area."
Kayla Caris (22) was sitting outside the building when the shooting occurred, at which point revelers began running inside. "Everyone just threw things and ran," she said. Videos shared on social media showed security forces leading one person away in handcuffs.
Astan Woknabu (25) told the "Seattle Times" that he was at the festival with his girlfriend when he heard the shots. According to him, the event was so crowded that they could barely move between the dense lines for the food stalls. He recalled that people began "trampling each other" while he and his girlfriend stayed in place. "It was just total chaos," he said. He added that he returned to the scene later to take pictures and saw several gunshot victims on the ground, including a person covered by a yellow sheet.
Another citizen described how he was watching a movie at the nearby cinema when it was suddenly interrupted due to the shooting. "Viewers were told to raise their hands and exit the hall slowly," he recalled, "and 10 or 15 police officers entered with weapons drawn." A spokesperson for the cinema stated that they evacuated those present and that the venue would be closed for the rest of the day.
A spokesperson for Harborview Medical Center, the leading trauma center in the area, stated that they are prepared to receive victims from the incident. The "Bite of Seattle" festival, which has been held at the Seattle Center for decades, is one of the busiest annual events at the complex. The festival attracted 282,000 visitors last year and includes hundreds of food and trade stalls alongside live music performances. The festival is located just one block from the city's famous Space Needle tower. The Seattle Monorail, whose terminal station is located at the Seattle Center, reported that it will remain closed for the rest of Sunday.
