Two people have been killed, and five injured, after a gunman opened fire at a food festival in Seattle.

Reports first emerged of the attack, near the city’s iconic Space Needle building, at nearly 3:30am in the UK on Monday morning. It’s thought the shots were fired at the Bite of Seattle food festival.

The BBC reported two people were pronounced dead at the scene of the attack. It added five people injured in the attack including a 56-year-old woman, who is said to be in hospital ‘in a serious condition’.

Another three people were hospitalised in ‘a stable condition’, including a two-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man.

A fifth person, a 40-year-old woman, was also hurt ‘with minor injuries’ but ‘declined transport to hospital’, fire chiefs added.

After first announcing two people had been arrested, Seattle city mayor Katie Wilson announced shortly before 6am on Monday in the UK that one suspect has been detained. Their identity has not been disclosed.

She said in her initial statement: "I want to thank the Seattle police officers who responded to the scene and took two suspects into custody.

"Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire."

"Tonight, our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them," she added. "Seattle grieves with you, and we will stand with you in the difficult days ahead."

The developing situation is being ‘monitored closely’, a Democratic Congresswoman for Washington added.

Pramila Jayapal said on X a short time ago: “We are monitoring closely information from the shooting that took place at the Seattle Center this evening.

“We are in close touch with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Governor Bob Ferguson, and coordinating across multiple levels of government to get updates on the situation.

“We are grateful to law enforcement at Seattle Police Department and first responders who are at the scene and working hard. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this senseless violence.

“We ask that the public please stay away from the Seattle Center as there is still an active investigation happening at this time. We will provide updates as we have additional information.”

This is a breaking news story, please check for updates.