Police attend #shooting in Los Angeles area, multiple casualties’

More than a dozen casualties have been reported after a shooting in Monterey Park, California, near a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. 

Dozens of police officers are responding to a shooting that took place around 10pm on Saturday local time (6am Sunday GMT). 

Local restaurant owner Seung Won Choi told the LA Times that three people rushed into his business and told him to lock the door.  

Mr Won Choi said he was told there was a man with a machine-gun, and believes there shooting took place at a dance club.

Multiple casualties were reported after the shooting in California during New Year celebrations

Dozens of police officers are responding to reports of a shooting on 22 January in California

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Tens of thousands of people had attended the festival earlier in the day.

News agency AFP notes the area is home to a large number of ethnic Asians,

Footage posted on social media showed deserted, cordoned-off streets guarded by police cars.

Monterey Park is a city in Los Angeles county, around 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Los Angeles. 

Armed police held a large presence, including helicopters, after the Monterey Park shooting

Investigators gather at a scene where a shooting took place in Monterey Park on Saturday PM