Hundreds of officers from various police forces continued the search this Thursday for the perpetrator of two shootings in the city of Le winston, in the state of Maine (USA), which left scores of people dead and dozens injured.

The number of deaths following Wednesday night’s attacks is still uncertain as no official figures have been released, but according to CNN the number could be more than 20.

Police forces in both Le winston and neighboring towns have asked their residents to stay home as the search continues for the alleged perpetrator of the attack, a 40-year-old man identified by authorities as Robert Card.

A car linked to Card was found by police in the town of Libon, about 12 kilometers east of Le winston.

Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee on Thursday morning reiterated to area residents that they should stay in their homes and contact authorities if they see anything suspicious.

“We want to locate the individual and keep the community safe,” the officer said on CNN.

McGee declined to discuss details about what leads police have on Card’s whereabouts and would not answer questions from reporters about the possibility that the suspect has fled to another state.

New Hampshire Border State Police, for their part, reported that they are cooperating with authorities in Maine.

“There is no known specific threat to the state of New Hampshire at this time, but police officers remain vigilant and ready to respond,” the official state police account on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter, said.

Without lessons

Several school districts in the state, including Portland, the most populous city, decided today to suspend classes.

In turn, several federal government agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, have joined the search for the suspect.

Two attacks

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released several images of the suspect yesterday, in which a man can be seen entering a bowling alley with an assault rifle.

At least two shootings with “multiple fatalities” occurred in Lewiston around 6:56 PM local time (22:56 GMT), according to local authorities.

The events took place at a bowling alley and bar in the town, the second largest in the state, with a population of nearly 40,000. There was a youth match in the bowling alley that was attacked that evening.

If the death toll is officially confirmed, it would be the deadliest shooting in the United States so far this year. (JO)