A police officer takes cover behind a truck at the scene of a shooting near the Mandalay Bay resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada, fired shot after shot from his room at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino down on the crowd of about 22,000, sending terrified concertgoers running for their lives. Update at 2:48 a.m. PDT: Mandalay Bay Resort, from where the suspect in the deadly Las Vegas attack carried out his shooting spree, has tweeted that its “thoughts and prayers are with the victims of last night’s tragic events.” The hotel posted a statement from MGM Resorts, explaining that all hotels nearby remain in lockdown.

• Mandalay Bay Casino Shooting
• Mandalay Bay Casino Shooting
• Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Shooting

Shooting on the Strip - How it Happened.

Scenes of the wounded, chaos and confusion at the Las Vegas shooting. Shooter Stephen Paddock is top centre.Source:Herald Sun

THE staggering toll in the deadliest mass shooting in US history has climbed to 58 dead and more than 500 wounded, Las Vegas police said — adding that the shooter killed himself after the rampage.

Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada, shot himself in his Mandalay Bay hotel room on the 32nd floor, where he had been staying since Thursday, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said.

“We believe the individual killed himself prior to our entry,” Sheriff Lombardo said.

Police found a cache of 10 rifles in his room, adding that it was unclear how he managed to keep the weapons from being discovered by housekeeping staff.

Shooting on the Strip - How it Happened.

Sheriff Lombardo confirmed Paddock was a “local”. He was described as a Las Vegas resident living in a local retirement community.

“As far as his history and back ground, we haven’t completed that part of the investigation yet,” Sheriff Lombardo said.

Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino. Police used explosives to blast their way into the room where the shooter was found dead.

Broken windows are seen on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas where a gunman opened fire on revellers at a country music festival. Picture: David Becker/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

Police said at least 58 people are dead and more than 500 people were being treated in Las Vegas hospitals and confirmed there was a crowd of more than 22,000 at the music festival.

Witnesses say the shots appeared to come from a balcony on the adjoining casino, aimed at the crowd below.

Sheriff Lombardo said one off-duty policeman had been killed in the shooting and two on-duty officers were injured.

One was in a stable condition after surgery, and the other sustained minor injuries.

The country’s previous worst shooting was when a heavily-armed gunman opened fire inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in the city of Orlando on June 12, 2016, killing 49 people.

BREAKING: Sheriff: Las Vegas gunman had more than 10 rifles in hotel room with him; search ongoing. https://t.co/WFr0ma2ZN2

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) October 2, 2017

DONALD TRUMP: ‘IT WAS AN ACT OF PURE EVIL’

US president Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House, describing Monday’s shooting as “an act of pure evil”.

Mr Trump spoke of his “sadness, shock and grief” at the shooting, which left at least 58 people dead and 500 more injured.

Mandalay Bay Casino Shooting

He also praised the efforts of Las Vegas police and emergency responders who attended the dead and injured.

Mr Trump was scheduled to fly to Puerto Rico tomorrow, and will now fly to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with the injured and emergency responders.

GUNMAN’S BROTHER: ‘HE JUST SNAPPED’

IS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SHOOTING

It comes as the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Las Vegas rampage, saying that the shooter had converted to Islam a few months ago, according to reports.

IS offered no evidence to support the claim.

“The Las Vegas attack was carried out by a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried it out in response to calls to target states of the coalition,” the group’s news agency Amaq said in reference to the US-led coalition fighting the group in the Middle East.

“The Las Vegas attacker converted to Islam a few months ago,” Amaq added, according to Reuters.

US police, however, have said there is “no connection” between the shooter and any international terrorist group.

IS has regularly claimed responsibility for mass shootings in the US.

Las Vegas PD Confirms Suspect Dead in Concert Shooting. Credit - Las Vegas PD via Storyful

FORMER GOLD COAST RESIDENT ‘NOT CONNECTED’ TO SHOOTING

Earlier, police had sought to speak to former Gold Coast resident Marilou Danley, 62, believed to be the “partner” of alleged shooter Stephen Paddock, in relation to the shootings.

Police said Danley had been interviewed and they believed she was not connected to the shooting.

“Marilou Danley is no longer being sought out as a person of interest,” Las Vegas police said about the 62-year-old woman, who has been living with Paddock in a retirement community. “LVMPD detectives have made contact with her and do not believe she is involved with the shooting on the strip,” police said in a statement.

My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2017

A property linked to Paddock and Danley, who had earlier been identified as a “person of interest”, has since been raided.

“We located numerous firearms within the room that [the shooting suspect] occupied,” Sheriff Lombardo said.

Former Gold Coast resident Marilou Danley (left), has been cleared by police of any involvement. Police were earlier searching for this car in relation to the shootings. Picture: LVMPDSource:Supplied

GUNMAN DIED OF ‘SELF-INFLICTED’ GUNSHOT WOUND

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department undersheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that Paddock had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound just as police entered the room.

They also revealed the shooter had hoarded weapons in his hotel room, including up to 10 guns.

In a statement, police said: “Paddock opened fire on a crowd of more than 22,000 concertgoers from his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel on Sunday evening at 10:08pm (4.08pm AEST).

JUST IN: Vegas gunman's brother to @WESH: 'We just don't understand ... we have no reason, rhyme, rational, excuse.' https://t.co/n7wKpqqRam

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) October 2, 2017

“The victims were across the street attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert when bullets rang out.

“Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT responded to the call, breached the hotel room and found the suspect dead.

The Clark County Fire Department estimated 500 people were transported to area hospitals and 58 are dead following Sunday evening’s shooting. Among the dead is an LVMPD officer who was off-duty at the time.”

CLINTON BLASTS NRA

Democrats swiftly renewed their push for gun control within hours of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, with congressional Democrats urging legislation and Hillary Clinton going after the National Rifle Association.

Hillary Clinton took the opportunity to slam the NRA over a push to ease federal rules for gun silencers, tweeting, “The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots. Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get.

“Our grief isn’t enough,” she continued. “We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again.”

My heart and prayers goes out to victims, families & loved ones! #PrayForLasVegas

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2017

TRUMP, OBAMA TWEET CONDOLENCES

President Donald Trump, First lady Melania Trump, former president Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton all took to Twitter to offer condolences to the victims of the shooting in Las Vegas and their families.

Michelle & I are praying for the victims in Las Vegas. Our thoughts are with their families & everyone enduring another senseless tragedy.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 2, 2017

In a morning tweet, Mr Trump said: “My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!”

First lady Melania Trump added, “My heart and prayers goes out to victims, families & loved ones! #PrayForLasVegas.”

Las Vegas, we are grieving with you—the victims, those who lost loved ones, the responders, & all affected by this cold-blooded massacre.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 2, 2017

The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots.
Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 2, 2017

Our grief isn't enough. We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 2, 2017

Former president Barack Obama added his condolences to the victims, tweeting, “Michelle & I are praying for the victims in Las Vegas,” former president Barack Obama tweeted. “Our thoughts are with their families & everyone enduring another senseless tragedy.”

Chaos as shots rang out at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas. Picture: David Becker/Getty ImagesSource:AFP

People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Picture: David Becker/Getty ImagesSource:AFP

‘MULTIPLE INJURIES AND FATALITIES’

Concertgoers reported seeing “multiple injuries and fatalities”, with people being shot around them as they fled the concert grounds on foot.

Pictures taken at the scene showed revellers cowering in the street or running in terror, as well what appeared to be several bodies lying prone on the ground.

VIDEO: FOX5 viewer Jorge Lozano caught video while the shooting was happening on the #LasVegasStrip tonight >https://t.co/fTeJAFXT1Npic.twitter.com/QeNSTLT6kO

— FOX5 Las Vegas (@FOX5Vegas) October 2, 2017

“Nurses said this all began with pair of officers running into UMC trauma entrance, helping carry a woman who was shot. Then, rush of patients,” a reporter for the Las Vegas Review Journal tweeted.

Police report they had packed squad cars with injured in order to get them to hospital. “I am transporting five critical patients in my car,” one distraught officer was heard to say.

A man comforts an injured woman at the scene of the shooting. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Scary as hell! This looks & sounds like a war zone... not the USA! #LasVegaspic.twitter.com/CPc3Wle9I6

— James Wagner (@JamesWagnerTW) October 2, 2017

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

Professional poker player and Instagram star Dan Bilzerian, who was at the concert, said that he saw the shooting unfold and witnessed a girl getting shot right in front of him.

“Holy f**k this girl just got shot in the f**king head,” Bilzerian said on his IG story.

“So f**king crazy … So I had to go grab a gun, I’m f**king heading back … Some kind of mass shooting … Guy had a heavy caliber weapon for sure … Saw a girl f**king get shot in the face right next to me, her brains f**king hanging out.”

Another concertgoer told CBS she saw muzzle flashes from the upper floors and the sound of automatic gunfire.

“The girls who was standing beside me got shot in the stomach everybody just thought at first it was firecrackers,” the woman said.

The relationship between the concert venue (B) and the Mandalay Bay casino (A), shown in this Google Earth view. Picture: CNNSource:Supplied

In one video, an eruption of semiautomatic firing can be heard as music plays. The band then breaks off as panic spreads.

“Oh my God, something’s happening. Get down, get down,” one woman can be heard saying.

“I heard what we thought was firecrackers, and we looked to the right of us and there was a woman down covered in blood,” a witness identified as Emily told local Fox affiliate KLAS.

“From that point on we just ran. We hid wherever we could, and now in an (aeroplane) hangar.

“We had no idea, it was just rapid fire. We all thought we were dead. It was awful. It just kept going, and going and going.”

People run for cover at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gunfire was heard. Picture: David Becker/Getty ImagesSource:AFP

Australian Brian Hodge, who was born in Wagga Wagga but now lives in the USA, said he was forced to take cover in the bushes outside the Mandalay Bay hotel when the shooter opened fire.

“I’m OK, hiding in bushes, ran outside the hotel,” he told News Corp Australia from outside the hotel.

Hodge, who is in Las Vegas with his staff, said that he expected to remain in hiding for a while.

“It’s going to be a long time before I get to a safe place, this place is in lockdown,” he said.

Las Vegas police stand guard along the streets outside the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Picture: David Becker/GettySource:AFP

A police officer takes cover behind a police vehicle during a shooting near the Mandalay Bay resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Picture: AP /John LocherSource:AP

An Australian witness staying at the Mandalay Bay hotel told CNN there was mayhem following the sound of machine gun fire.

“The initial gun shots were machine gun fire,” he said. “We knew it was chaos and mayhem because people were running out of everywhere.”

Guests on Upper Floor of Hotel Watch People Flee During Deadly Vegas Shooting. Credit - Twitter/EirikurH via Storyful

He also described the confusion when police came across a group of guests taking cover.

Mandalay Bay Casino Shooting

“We were tucked away, about 12 of us, in a carpark thing, and the SWAT team came and said hands up,” he said.

“We didn’t know where the shooter [was]. We knew [the police] were confused like we were. Police ushered us out.”

This is video from my brother's friend Reiglynn Parsley from the moment gunfire started going off. @FOXLApic.twitter.com/PqQ6nLyhpP

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 2, 2017

Jon Bessette told NBC news he was attending the festival when he heard gunshots around 10pm local time. “The band ran off stage and it was pandemonium,” Bessette said. “Everyone was running, people were getting trampled.”

Artists performing at the open-air concert have tweeted their alarm at the shooting.

“We heard a round of (fire from) a machine gun, and people just started dropping,” an eyewitness of the shooting told NBC News. “As people were running people were shooting ... no-one was safe.”

The scene so far around Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard. Picture: Twitter/Chase StevensSource:Supplied

Witnesses tell me people were getting shot around them #LasVegas@news3lvpic.twitter.com/xUOELxFupH

— Nathan O'Neal (@NateNews3LV) October 2, 2017

“They were firing from somewhere high, and they were unloading clip after clip after clip after clip,” a witness told Nathan O’Neal, a reporter for a local news station, KSNV News.

“It was hundreds of shots ... There were bullets flying everywhere. Everybody was running. It was really, really bad,” he said.

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Shooting

“They were firing from somewhere high and they were unloading clip after clip after clip. Multiple shooters, has to be.

“There were obviously people hit. We saw one getting CPR in a truck.”

People take cover at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Picture: David Becker/Getty ImagesSource:AFP

People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Picture: David Becker/GettySource:AFP

“It sounded like two firecrackers ended up being hundreds of shots. It sounded like a firecracker and then didn’t sound like a firecracker. “

His female companion described the chaotic scenes in the concert:

“There bullets ricocheting around my feet because we all got on the floor, crawling out, rushing. I just thought it was something technical, something wrong with the stage then everyone started rushing out,” she said.

A person takes cover at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Picture: David Becker/GettySource:AFP

Twitter user StreetBeetle told Newshub a friend, who used to be in the military, “knew instantly it was an automatic weapon”.

He said there’s “lots of panic” and the hotel had sent people to the basement and to their rooms.

“It still seems very nuts. The MGM is now on lockdown and everyone is crying and panicking.”

Police officers stand by as medical personnel tend to a person on Tropicana Ave. near Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby. Picture: Ethan Miller/GettySource:AFP

VEGAS IN LOCKDOWN

Police have shut down part of the Las Vegas Strip and thoroughfare Interstate 15.

Mandalay Bay is on the south side of the Vegas strip, across from McCarran International Airport.

The Route 91 Harvest Music Festival was in its final night, in an open-air performance venue across the street from the casino.

McCarran International Airport tweeted that several flights had been diverted, but it has since “temporarily halted” all flights in and out of the airport.

Images from the active shooter scene so far around Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard. Picture: Twitter/ Chase StevensSource:Supplied

DFAT MAKING ‘URGENT INQUIRIES’

Australian authorities are making urgent calls to determine if any Australians have been caught up in the attack.

“The Australian Consulate-General in Los Angeles is making urgent inquiries with local authorities to determine whether any Australians have been affected by a shooting incident at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas,” a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said.

She urged Australians who had concerns for the welfare of family and friends in the Las Vegas area to contact them directly.

“If you are unable to contact them and still hold concerns for their welfare, you should call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1 300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 if calling from overseas,” she said.

Panic in Crowd as Shots Ring Out During Deadly Vegas Shooting. Credit - Instagram/rtbleck via Storyful