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Five people have been killed and several others were injured after a gunman opened fire at a US newsroom in a “targeted” attack on journalists.

Horrified witnesses described how the gunman shot through a glass door before he opened fire in the Capital Gazette offices in Annapolis, Maryland.

It was a targeted attack on the newspaper, which had recently received violent threats on social media, police said as it emerged a suspected explosive device was found at the scene.

The attacker threw smoke grenades and fired a shotgun at his victims, according to Anne Arundel County acting police chief William Krampf.

The suspect has been detained after officers found him hiding under a desk in the building, police said. Officers said he had damaged his fingertips to prevent immediate identification.

He has been named as Jarrod Warren Ramos, 38, of Laurel, Maryland, who sued the newspaper in 2012 alleging defamation, according to US reports.

The five victims have been named as Rob Hiassen, 59, editor, Wendi Winters, 65, reporter, Rebecca Smith, 34, sales assistant, Gerald Fischman, 61, editorial writer and John McNamara, 56, reporter and editor.

Journalists at the newspaper promised to publish today's edition despite the horrific events that led to five of their colleagues being killed.

On Twitter, staff wrote: "We’re putting out a damn paper tomorrow."

Emergency services descended on the Capital Gazette office amid reports of an "active" shooter on Thursday afternoon.

One US official said the suspect was identified using facial recognition technology after he damaged his fingerprints in what police believe was an effort to prevent him being identified easily.

No gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and police, officials said, adding that the weapon used was a “long gun”.

A reporter at the newspaper earlier tweeted about the shooting, saying that a gunman "shot through the glass door to the office".

"Can't say much more and don't want to declare anyone dead, but it's bad," said Phil Davis, the crime and courts reporter.

"There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload."

Marc Limansky, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, earlier said that officers were searching the building while trying to get everyone out safely.

On TV reports, people could be seen leaving the building with their hands up, as police officers urged them to depart through a car park and officers converged on the building.

Annapolis police official Timothy Seipp said that officers were "trying to clear the building" and ensure the safety of everyone inside.

“This is going to be a long investigation,” he added.

President Donald Trump said his "thoughts and prayers" are with the victims of the shooting and their families. "Thank you to all of the First Responders who are currently on the scene," he said.

Mr Trump was aboard Air Force One, returning to Washington from an event in Wisconsin, when he was briefed on the attack.

First lady Melania Trump tweeted about the shooting, describing it as "tragic" and "evil."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders denounced the shooting, saying an attack on "journalists doing their job is an attack on every American."

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin said he was "devastated", adding: "My heart is with Capital Gazette and the people of Annapolis right now."

The New York Police Department said it was beefing up security at New York-based news organisations as a precaution.

Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism and Intelligence John Miller said the deployments are not based on any specific threat information, but out of an abundance of caution.

"We're deploying units from our Critical Response Command to news outlets throughout New York City," said Officer Andrew Lava, an NYPD spokesman.

"There is no active threat at this time," he said.

Agents from the Baltimore office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were responding to the incident, the bureau tweeted.

Anne Arundel County police officer Ryan Frashure said the suspected explosive device found had been "taken care of".

This page is being updated...