Washington, July 27: At least two people were killed and five seriously injured in a mass shooting at a famous food festival in the city of Seattle, Washington, USA. The tragedy occurred at the Seattle Center near the city’s famous tourist attraction, the ‘Space Needle’.
The shooting took place at around 6 pm during the annual ‘Bite of Seattle’ food festival. Hundreds of food stalls and music events were taking place at the festival when 7 to 8 rounds of gunfire were heard. The panicked public started running in fear of their lives. A stampede also occurred at this time, creating an atmosphere of extreme confusion.
The injured in the incident were immediately admitted to the nearby Harborview Medical Center. The Seattle Police Department has taken up the investigation and advised the public to avoid the area. Police have not yet released any official information about the attacker or the arrest.
History of Bite of Seattle: Started in 1982, this food festival is one of the oldest and largest food fairs in America. The three-day festival attracts more than 3.5 million people every year.
Mass shootings at public events and in crowded areas in the United States are a constant concern. According to the Gun Violence Archive, hundreds of mass shootings have been reported in the United States this year alone. There is growing public pressure on the US government to further tighten gun control laws and prevent the carrying of guns at public events and gatherings.