Seattle: At least one person was killed and five wounded in a shooting on Thursday in downtown Seattle, city police said on Twitter, adding they were searching for suspects.

Police work the scene of a shooting on Third Avenue and Pine Street in Seattle. Credit:AP

Few details on the violence were immediately available but television station KOMO-TV reported the incident snarled evening rush-hour traffic and quoted an office worker identified only as Bill as saying he heard gunfire and saw scores of people running for cover.

"It was sheer panic," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."

"Detectives are investigating after six people were wounded by gunfire, one fatally," Seattle police said on Twitter.