Three people have been killed and at least five people injured at a food festival in Seattle near the northwestern US city’s iconic space needle on Sunday night.

Police were called to the Bite of Seattle food festival in the Seattle Center at about 6pm local time after multiple gunshots were heard in the area.

Two people were shot and pronounced dead at the scene, and one person is believed to have died in hospital.

Five people were reported injured, including a 56-year-old woman who remains in hospital in a serious condition.

Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis says one person was taken into custody, while another fled, and that police believe the two suspects were shooting at each other.

Police are still hunting for the second gunman, but Davis says there is “no outstanding threat to the community”.

“There were two people who we believe were shooting at each other,” Mr Davis said.

A two-year-old boy was also injured, as well as a 39-year-old woman and 23-year-old man — all three were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

It is believed the nearby Harborview Medical Centre is in “partial lockdown” as it treating several of the victims, which a hospital spokesperson says is to protect the injured and their families.

Ms Wilson described the shooting as an “act of horrific violence”, paying tribute to the emergency services who rushed to the scene to treat the victims and apprehend the suspects.

“Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire,” she said in a statement.

“No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city.”

Justice Beitzel, 52, told The New York Times she was at festival with friends when she heard gunshots. She said the music suddenly stopped and people ran toward her, ducking and hiding behind trees. She grabbed her friend and hid behind a picket fence.

“We helped console those who were still shaking,” Beitzel said.