Las Vegas shooting: Britons speak of fleeing chaos
- Published
British tourists caught up in the Las Vegas shooting have told of their fear and attempts to flee the gunfire.
Ian Thorne said he was still looking for three members of his holiday party, but that he was not allowed to leave his hotel as it was on lock-down.
Police said at least 58 people died when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on a concert crowd from a hotel room.
The Queen said she and Prince Philip "were saddened to learn of the terrible attack in Las Vegas".
In a letter of condolence to US President Donald Trump, she said their "thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and those who have been injured".
Prime Minister Theresa May called the attack "senseless and cowardly".
Mr Thorne described his hotel as "like a ghost town" and that police would only tell them to "get back".
He said he hoped that those he was missing could not answer their phones because they were among those being held in the basement of another hotel.
Nathan Judah, a journalist from Wolverhampton, said the shooting had been a "scary and surreal" experience.
"Hundreds of people were screaming. Everybody was on their phones, trying to call their loved ones", he said.
A newlywed couple from Northern Ireland who were at the concert described fleeing the scene.
Stuart McCormick and his wife Zara hid behind a stall when the shooting began.
Mr McCormick said: "We were close to the middle [of the concert] when we heard four noises and panicked.
"Zara ran and brought me with her to the exit... but we were held inside.
"I realised it was coming from the Mandalay Bay side, so we ran towards Hooters.
"We ended up hiding in the MGM parking lot behind two cars."
It has also emerged that off-duty soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards - the Welsh Cavalry - helped to look after the wounded on the ground.
They were in Las Vegas after taking part in training in California and were staying at a nearby hotel when the shooting happened.
Laura Robson 'OK'
British tennis player Laura Robson has said she is safe after attending the concert where the shooting occurred.
The 23-year-old had posted pictures of herself at the concert on Instagram and replied to one post on Twitter asking how she was.
Last week she had tweeted , externala photograph of herself with the boxer Gennady Golovkin, with the caption "when in Vegas...".
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In a statement, Mrs May said she had spoken to President Trump in order to offer her condolences, along with those of the country.
"This was an individual shooting randomly, a completely senseless and cowardly attack - and so many people have been killed and injured.
"And our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been victim to this terrible attack."
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was "horrified by the awful attack".
He said the Foreign Office was in contact with Las Vegas authorities to establish whether any British people were caught up in the attack.
Mr Thorne, who had been out for pizza at the time, described the confusion at the scene.
"Now we're back in our rooms [we feel safe] but it was mayhem, basically, absolute mayhem really.
"No-one knew what happened - all we knew was that the police were coming in and moving us back out from the cordoned-off area.
"It was not until we got back looking at the local TV and there they are saying what's happened and showing the footage of it as well.
"It's absolutely frightening."
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- Published2 October 2017
- Published2 October 2017