Images from the scene of the Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest in U.S. modern times

A mass shooting targeting concertgoers in Las Vegas who were gathered for the last night of a popular country music festival has left at least 50 people dead and more than 400 people were taken to hospital.

Thousands of people had converged for the last night of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in an outdoor area known as Las Vegas Village, across the strip from the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor hotels. Country singer Jason Aldean was performing when the gunman opened fire, sparking a mad scramble for shelter.

Police have identified the gunman as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, who died in a hotel on the Vegas stripe. The gunman's motive is unknown. 

Police shut down the usually busy Las Vegas Boulevard, and authorities across the state and federal ranks converged onto the scene as dozens of ambulances ferried those struck by gunfire.

People were searched by police at the Tropicana Las Vegas as the shooting was happening.

The killings at the sold-out festival mark the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The previous was was in Orlando, where 49 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in June 2016.

A nearby interstate was briefly closed, as was the international airport, while many hotels were put on lock down Sunday.

U.S. President Trump called the shooting an act of "pure evil" and said the nation is heartbroken following the deadly attack.