Three teenagers have died at a hotel in Northern Ireland as police investigate reports of a “crush”.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said at least two more people were injured.
One of those injured is in a stable condition while the other was treated at the scene.
The incident happened at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, County Tyrone, which was hosting a St Patrick’s Day event.
While the circumstances of what happened are still under investigation, there were reports of a crush at the scene, police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton confirmed two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old died. None of the injuries suggested a violent altercation, the ambulance service said.
Speaking from the scene, Hamilton said: “Our preliminary investigations show there was a crush towards the front door of this hotel.
“There looks like there was a large crowd of young people pushing up against the hotel.”
He made a direct appeal for people with footage of the incident to hand it to police, rather than post it on social media.
Emma Heatherington, whose two sons, aged 17 and 18, had been at the event, said she “felt sick” when she saw the police appeal.
“My two boys were there so I rang them, shaking and thankfully got them both,” she said. “They were on their way home at that stage.
“They say there was a huge crowd waiting to get into the venue and then a lot of commotion up near the front of the queue, then they said the emergency services arrived and they were all asked to leave.
“They came home very, very shaken with rumours that some people had died.”
The 42-year-old, of Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, added: “While it’s not clear exactly what happened, it’s the most tragic ending imaginable to what was supposed to be a celebration of St Patrick’s Day.”
A member of staff at the nearby Glenavon Hotel said they had heard the sirens as emergency services rushed to the scene, and said police had come to borrow their defibrillator.
“There were ambulances passing our entrance,” he said. “It’s scary, and you just hoped everyone was OK. It’s very sad to hear what happened.”
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said they had received several calls on Sunday evening following reports of a number of people having sustained serious injuries.
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: “We are devastated to hear of the confirmed PSNI report of at least two deaths this evening at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown. This is shocking and tragic news and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased.”
Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster tweeted that her “thoughts and prayers” were “with everyone impacted by this tonight”.