16 feared dead in Maine mass shooting

At least 16 people have reportedly been killed in the US city of Lewiston, Maine and a search is under way for the gunman.

The shootings began at 18:56 local time (22:56 GMT) on Wednesday at a bowling alley and a restaurant, police said.

Lewiston residents, as well as those in the nearby town of Lisbon, have been told to shelter in place.

Police named Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest and said he should be considered “armed and dangerous”.

The authorities have not yet confirmed a death toll but CBS, the BBC’s US partner, has said the number is at least 16 after speaking to multiple law enforcement officials.

There have also been multiple but unconfirmed reports of at least 50 people injured.

Michael Sauschuck, commissioner in Maine’s Department of Public Safety, said there had been “multiple casualties”.

Lewiston has a population of around 38,000 people and is the second-largest city in Maine after Portland.