Image source, Reuters

It's over to the media now, who have been granted some time to ask questions.

Answering them is Mike Sauschuck, from Maine's department of public safety, who we heard from a little earlier.

A journalist asks about reports that the suspect Robert Card has mental health issues.

Sauschuck says police are looking into that line of inquiry and it's a valid question, but not something "that we can answer today".

Pressed on whether police are investigating why Card had access to a gun given his reported background, Sauschuck says he can't provide further information at the moment.

Up next, FBI special agent Jodi Cohen is speaking. She says her office is working with local law enforcement in Maine, providing investigative and tactical support.

"My pledge is that the FBI will carry out this investigative case with rigour," Cohen says.

"We'll work day and night ... to get the answers to these questions."

Ross repeats warnings that Robert Card - the suspected gunman - should be considered armed and dangerous, should not be approached, and anyone who comes into contact with him should call 911 immediately.

The state police officer also says there are phone numbers that people in the area can use to make tips to police.

Ross says police at all levels of the state are involved in the large search for the suspect.

He ends by describing the situation as fluid and acknowledges people in the state are going through a very difficult time.

Image source, Reuters

Ross, of Maine State Police, says the suspected gunman's car was found during the search.

He also says eight of the victims have now been identified - 10 are yet to be.

There is an arrest warrant for eight counts of murder for suspected gunman Robert Card, Ross goes on, but this is because there are still people who haven't been identified.

When they have been, this number could increase.

There's some more detail now on those who were killed in the attacks. "Eighteen people are deceased at this time," Ross says.

There were seven people killed at the bowling alley, he goes on, adding one was female and six male.

At the restaurant, eight were found dead: seven males inside and one male outside.

He says the cause of death for all 18 is apparent gunshot wounds.

Multiple people were taken to area hospitals, he says, but three of them died.

Image source, Reuters

Ross says at around 18:56 local time (23:56 GMT), police received reports of an active shooter at a location in Lewiston, Maine - we now know this to be the bowling alley Just-In-Time.

Minutes later, at around 19:08, multiple calls were made to police of an active shooter at another location, which we now know to be the restaurant Schemengees.

Ross says police quickly responded but faced a "very fluid, very dangerous" scene.

Colonel William Ross, another police official, this time from Maine State Police, is speaking now.

He says the investigation is in its early stages and things have to be done correctly.

Ross also sets out a timeline of how the shootings played out.

It's now over to Lewiston's chief of police, David St Pierre, who describes the shootings as a "tragedy beyond comprehension", before asking the public to be mindful of each other.

He goes on to say this is an "all hands on deck approach", and he thanks first responders as "we hope to catch the person responsible".

Image source, Reuters

We're now hearing from Mike Sauschuck - he's from Maine's department of public safety in Maine.

He confirms the suspect is still at large, but says law enforcement officers have a "laser focus" on bringing him to justice.

Before handing over to another official, Mills urges people in the state to "wrap our arms around one another, and offer counsel, solace and love".

She assures people that the police will release further information when it becomes available, and ends by paying tribute to the people who have been hurt and killed in the shootings.

Still talking about the north-eastern state of Maine, its governor Mills says it is a “small state” and that “this attack strikes at the heart of what we hold dear”.

She extends sympathy to the families affected, and says she promises "you we will all help carry your grief".

"I know it is hard to think about healing," she goes on, adding the community "will heal together” as “we are strong and resilient and we will need to call on these qualities more than ever before.”

"Look, Lewiston is a special place," Mills continues, adding that it's where she met and married her husband - and where her children went to school.

She calls it a close-knit community, which she says has a history of "opening its big heart to people everywhere".

"I love this place... with my entire heart," she tells the media. "This city did not deserve this terrible assault on its citizens, on its peace of mind, on its sense of security. No city does."

Mills adds:

We're continuing to hear from Mills - she says there are still many things not known about the attacks but the state's full security apparatus is involved in the investigation and response.

She says the perpetrator will be held accountable and the state is committed to getting full justice for the families of victims.

Maine has full support from the White House, she goes on, repeating that she has spoken to President Biden as well as other officials.

She says help is available for people across the state impacted by the shootings, including grief counsellors and mental health specialists, by texting the number 988.

Mills says the manhunt for the suspected gunman is ongoing and that Robert Card - who police earlier named as a person of interest - is “considered armed and dangerous”.

Police advise people not to approach him, she adds.

Maine's governor urges people to contact the emergency services if Card is spotted, adding “the full weight of my administration is behind helping police find Carr and to find the person responsible".

Image source, Reuters

More now from Janet Mills, the Democratic state governor of Maine, who after confirming 18 people have died and 13 others were injured says she is "profoundly saddened".

Earlier it was estimated that 16 people had been killed.

President Biden and Mills have ordered flags, she says, to be lowered to half mast as a sign of respect for the next five days.

Mills says officers from across the state responded swiftly and bravely, and are still searching tirelessly for the gunman.

She expresses her "deep gratitude" for their service, and that of medical staff in the state.

Image source, Reuters

Maine's state governor Janet Mills is up first at the news conference, she says 18 people have been killed and a further 13 injured

We're expecting to hear an update from Maine State Police about last night's mass shooting in Lewiston in the next few minutes.

The state's governor, Democrat Janet Mills, is also expected to make a statement.

We'll be bringing you key updates from that briefing, and you can also watch it live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Lewiston's mass shooting across two locations on Wednesday night could be the most deadly mass shooting in the US this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

Although the number of people killed has not yet been confirmed, some reports have had death tolls of up to 22.

The second largest mass shooting in the US this year claimed the lives of 11 people in Monterey Park, California.

These events have become increasingly common in the US. But, as reported earlier, Maine ranks 40th across US states - and Washington DC - in its rate of gun-related deaths, according to data by Everytown for Gun Safety.

We're expecting to hear more from the police in Maine shortly - they’re holding a news conference alongside the state’s governor.

Police may offer further explanation to the current situation in the region - where several towns and cities remain in lockdown as the gunman is still at large.

A statement has now been posted on the Facebook page of the Lewiston bowling alley - one of the scenes of the mass shooting on Wednesday night.

Throughout the day, we've been reporting the bowling alley's name as Sparetime Recreation, which is how the police initially identified it.

It's website says it is now called Just-In-Time Recreation.