3 killed in shooting near Seattle's Space Needle

At least Three people were killed and five others injured, including a two-year-old child, in a shooting near Seattle's iconic Space Needle in Washington state, authorities said, adding that multiple gunmen may have been involved.

According to BBC and AFP, the shooting incident took place on Sunday (July 26) in the Seattle Center area, prompting a large-scale response from police and emergency crews.

The Seattle Fire Department said two victims were dead at the scene. The two-year-old child was hospitalised in stable condition, while a 56-year-old woman remains in critical condition. Another injured person declined hospital treatment after sustaining minor injuries.

However, the conditions of the remaining victims were not immediately disclosed.

In a post on X, Seattle Police confirmed officers were responding to a shooting at Seattle Center and said the investigation was ongoing.

Authorities believe multiple shooters may have been involved, but no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting.

Police said further details would be released as the investigation progresses.

The shooting unfolded while the popular Bite of Seattle food festival was underway, with hundreds of food vendors, live performances and large crowds gathered at the venue. The incident triggered panic among festivalgoers and prompted a major security response.