Doug Saunders/APAt least 12 people are thought to be dead and eight injured in a mass shooting at a social services facility for disabled people in California.
Police have confirmed “one to three possible suspects” in the attack in the city of San Bernardino at around 11am local time today, saying they are responding to an incident with multiple victims.
Up to three white male gunmen are thought to have attacked the the Inland Regional Center – a non-profit organisation for people with disabilities.
Witness Reports: Shooters walked into conference room and opened fire during Christmas party #SanBernardino
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) December 2, 2015
According to local reports, all the men were heavily armed and possibly wearing body armour and ski masks.
ABC News reports there was an event going on at the centre at the time of the shooting.
The number of deaths is unconfirmed at present, as the county sheriff and fire departments have reported varying numbers of victims, but it could be as many as 20.
As reported by the BBC, the facility is described as still being a “very active scene” and police are trying to secure the building, according to a police spokeswoman.
MSNBCOne man told ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles that he received a text from his daughter which said she was hiding inside the building, where she works.
Terry Petit told reporters his daughter wrote to him: “People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us. I am locked in an office”.
SWAT teams have been called in to clear the scene and, shortly before midday, dozens of people were seen exiting the building with their hands up. Others were seen being taken away by paramedics on stretchers.
AFPNo arrests have yet been made.
There are also unconfirmed reports of an explosive device found at the scene.
The shooting comes less than a week after a man opened fire at a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado, killing three people.
