Six dead of shooting at July 4th Parade near Chicago

The event at Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, was suddenly interrupted about 10 minutes after a shooting was started.

Police officials said they are still searching for a white man, aged 18-20, described as the armed and dangerous “”.

City authorities described the incident as <x0active” and said 24 persons were also hospitalised.

Law enforcement officers, who are in search of suspects, have secured a perimeter around the area in downtown Greenland Park and have found “evidence of a” firearm, the statement said.

Speaking at a press conference, local police commander Chris O'Neill described the attacker as a young white man who is <x0, armed and dangerous”.

“On a day we gathered to celebrate community and freedom, we are mourning the tragic loss of life”, said the mayor of Nancy Rotring City.

Local resident Miles Zaremski told Chicago Sun-Times: “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were successive. So it couldn't just be a pistol or a shotgun”.

“This is an active incident,” the city's officials said in an update posted on the Greenland Park website, advising those in the area to be “trended locally”.

Congressman Brad Schweider, who represents the district, wrote on Twitter that “was listening to a loss of life”.

Highland Park Mayor said the festival had been cancelled and urged people to avoid the area in the city's centre.

Photos posted in social media suggest a major response to emergency services has been sent to the area.