'Multiple' victims in an "active shooter" incident in Austin, Texas

At least one person is dead and multiple people injured from an "active shooter" incident in Austin, Texas, police say.

“Active shooter incident downtown, multiple victims. Stay away from downtown,” Austin police said in a message on Twitter on Sunday.

Police stated that there were “separate shootings in the same area”, but did not say how many suspected gunmen were involved or where the incident took place. Police also said that both scenes were "secure at this time."

According to local media reports, one woman in her 30s died in the violence.

Officers were clearing crowds from around the scenes early on Sunday.

Paramedics said people with gunshot wounds were spread across the area and they were trying to locate them.

Three people -- two females and one male -- were transported to the University Medical Center Brackenridge with gunshot wounds.

Austin-Travis County emergency services (EMS) confirmed that one woman in her 30s was dead in an incident they described as an "active shooter" situation on Sixth Street in downtown Austin.

Police said at 3.18am local time (8.13pm NZ) there were two separate scenes and both were secure.

Multiple people had been injured in the shooting, according to the EMS. Three people had been transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge, authorities said.

Police warned people to avoid the area.

Local television station KXAN, citing paramedics, reported that people with gunshot wounds were spread across the area.

Authorities say there were five victims in the shooting: a woman who died at the scene, two women and a man who were taken to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds, and a man who refused treatment.Three people have been taken to the University Medical Center Brackenridge for treatment, CNN reported. Their conditions are unknown.

A witness said the shootings happened along Sixth Street, east of Brazos Street.

Austin has a population of more than 900,000.

@Austin_Police #BREAKING: Video of the #Austin #Texas shooting:@RalphGreNader pic.twitter.com/BqdBiJAMUK

— Alon Velan (@AlonVelan) July 31, 2016

Active shooter incident downtown, multiple victims. Stay away from downtown. Media: Dont call for updates at this time, more to follow. PIO6

— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) July 31, 2016

Update: separate shootings within the same area. Both scenes are secure at this time. PIO responding to identify staging area.

— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) July 31, 2016