Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has issued a statement on the shooting at a Republican Congressional baseball team practise, offering his prayers and condemning the violence.

"Our prayers go out for a full recovery of Rep. Scalise, the congressional aides and police who were injured," Mr Sanders said in a tweet. "We’ve got to stop the violence."

The tweet came just as reports surfaced linking the gunman, identified as James T. Hodgkinson, to the Senator's campaign.

The reports said Mr Hodgkinson, who died in police custody, appears to have been a Sanders supporter. An acquaintance told The Washington Post that the Illinois resident had volunteered on Mr Sanders' campaign.

A Facebook page bearing Mr Hodgkinson's name boasts a photo of Mr Sanders as the featured image.

Mr Sanders quickly issued a follow-up statement in response to the reports.

"Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms," the Senator said.

Virginia Shooting Show all 20 1 /20 Virginia Shooting Virginia Shooting House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and others were shot Wednesday at a congressional baseball practice, officials said AP Virginia Shooting Police and emergency personnel are seen near the scene where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot during a Congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting A man receives medical attention from first responders on the scene following a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, US EPA Virginia Shooting The Republican House majority whip Steve Scalise and at least four others have been shot shot at a congressional baseball game practice session, according to media report EPA Virginia Shooting Police close a street near the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia EPA Virginia Shooting Police close a street near the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, USA EPA Virginia Shooting The Republican House majority whip Steve Scalise and at least four others have been shot shot at a congressional baseball game practice session, according to media reports EPA Virginia Shooting First responders on the scene following a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, USA EPA Virginia Shooting Alexandria, Va. Police Chief Michael Brown speaks about the shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich. talks on the phone while walking past a damaged vehicle at a shooting scene where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La. was shot at a Congressional baseball practice AP Virginia Shooting A Capitol Hill Police officer walks past an automobile with the driver's window damaged at the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn. is seen near the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting A Capitol Hill Police officer stands his post at the entrance to the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington AP Virginia Shooting Law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a shooting near a baseball field in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting An Alexandria, Va. police officer tapes off an area near the YMCA after a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. walks toward media gathered at the scene of a shooting at a baseball field in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting The baseball field that is the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Law enforcement officers gather near a shooting scene at baseball field in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas and other members of the Republican Congressional softball team, stand behind police tape of the scene of a multiple shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala. meets with reporters in Alexandria, Va AP

Mr Hodgkinson allegedly opened fire on a routine Republican baseball practise in Alexandria, Virginia. Twenty-five Republican members of Congress and their aides were gathered on the field in advance of a bipartisan game the next day.

Five people, including Majority Whip Steve Scalise and two Capitol Police officers, were shot. Two were transported to George Washington Hospital in critical condition.

Law enforcement identified the shooter, who has since died, as James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois.

Witnesses, including Senator Rand Paul, said Mr Hodgkinson appeared to have wielded a semi-automatic weapon.

Mr Sanders has faced criticism for his moderate views on gun control, especially during his 2016 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Independent Senator, who supports instant background checks and bans on semi-automatic weapons, has also voted five times against the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.