The suspected Las Vegas shooter was armed with more than ten weapons when he launched his attack on a country music festival, police have revealed.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said the alleged gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, was firing from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay hotel.

“We think it was in excess of ten guns,” he said, during a press conference in the early hours. He also had two tripods and a camera for monitoring police.

Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting – in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

Officers said they believed that Mr Paddock, who was a resident of the city of Mesquite, 80 miles to the northeast, had checked into the hotel room last Thursday. After opening fire on people attending the Route 91 Harvest festival, located just of the Las Vegas strip, he took his own life, officers said.

Initially police believed there were two people in the room and for some hours officers were searching for a woman called Marilou Danley - apparently his housemate in Mesquite. Mr Lombardo said officers believe that Mr Paddock had illegally made use of her ID.

Las Vegas shooting: 50 dead and more than 400 hospitalised

“We have located her out of the country. She was not with him when she checked in,” he said. “We have discovered that he was utilising some use of her identification. We have have had conversation with her. At this time, we believe her not to be involved but obviously that investigation will continue.”

Mr Lombardo was asked when Mr Paddock took his own life. “We believe the individual killed himself prior to our entry,” he said.

A reporter asked about the number of weapons they found in Mr Paddock’s room. “We’re still going through a search warrant actively at this time, but in excess of ten rifles,” he responded.

The officer said that officers were also at Mr Paddock’s home in Mesquite. He said the search of the property in Babbling Brook Court, which he bought in 2015, would proceed slowly as officers searched for possible explosives.

USA Today said the property is located in a retirement community, Sun City Mesquite, a development of about 1400 homes. The community includes an 18-hole golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a recreation centre, the newspaper said. Residents must be at least 55 years old, and no children are allowed.