Five people have been killed, and at least 18 injured, in a shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs in the US.

In a statement the club – Club Q – called the shooting a “hate attack” and said customers overpowered the gunman.

It said: “Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community.

“Our prayers and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”

The initial phone call reporting the active shooting came in 11:57pm local time, Colorado Springs police lieutenant Pamela Castro told a news conference.

Eleven ambulances and 34 firefighters attended the scene, with the incident described as “a mass casualty event”.

Ms Castro said officers were able to immediately enter the venue, and located one individual they believe to be the suspect.

Man attacked by bear in Colorado survives after managing to grab his gun

Major League Baseball reporter Kelsey Wingert in hospital after being hit in head by 95mph ball

Climate activist Wynn Alan Bruce dies after setting himself on fire outside US Supreme Court on Earth Day

They are now in custody and being treated for injuries at a local hospital.

She declined to say what kind of firearm was used in the shooting.

Police have not said how the suspect was stopped, or the motivation for the attack.

The area around the nightclub, which is located in a shopping centre on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, has now been closed off.

The FBI are already on the scene and assisting with investigations.

Multiple news outlets are also at the scene.

Club Q describes itself as an “adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub hosting theme nights,” with events including karaoke, drag shows and DJ sets.

A DJ set and dancing was listed as taking place from 9pm local time on Saturday night, following karaoke, and had been due to carry on until 2am.

In 2016, a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people before he was shot dead by police. Over 50 others were also injured.

Treated as an act of terrorism, the shooter Omar Mateen, 29, had claimed allegiance to a leader of Islamic State.

At the time it was the worst mass shooting in recent US history.

Related posts:

EU set to ease holiday travel restrictions for fully vaccinated people EU leader says bloc will reach vaccination targets ‘without sealing itself off from the world’ Man wanted for buying stolen van Gogh paintings arrested in Dubai Boxer Manny Pacquiao to run for Philippines president Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband urges foreign secretary to make case ‘top priority’ ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirts now allowed at Australian Open after backlash Injured Briton captured in Ukraine by Russian forces and paraded on television The town staring down the barrel of Putin’s war machine as the fight for Donbas intensifies Family of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero files $400m lawsuit over his alleged abduction and torture Nearly 100,000 back campaign to free British geologist facing death penalty in Iraq Shift away from fossil fuels by 2050 could save the world £10trn Fears grow for Iranian athlete who competed without hijab at international event