Two Killed After Club Event Hosted By Rapper

At least two people have been killed and three injured in a shooting that began at a Toronto nightclub event hosted by rapper Drake.

Police said the first shots were fired inside the Muzik club in Exhibition Place at around 3.30am when it was closing.

More were then fired on the street outside.

Toronto Deputy Police Chief Peter Sloly said it happened despite a large number of officers being present.

"This was a brazen, large-scale, ongoing firearm incident where our officers and members of the public were directly in the line of fire," Mr Sloly said.

"We are very lucky that this is not a larger body count, quite frankly."

He could not say if Drake and fellow rapper Kanye West, who was among the "high-profile" guests at the party, were still in the club at the time.

The Muzik club said in a statement that the last patrons were leaving when shots were heard.

It said it had over 70 security guards on duty that night and that visitors were inspected with metal detectors.

A Toronto police spokesman said it was not immediately clear how many people were involved in the shooting or how it started.

The two killed were a man and woman in their 20s and 30s.

The three who were wounded were taken to hospital with various injuries, none life-threatening.

"Our officers were present when the initial shots went off. They were within meters of the initial shooting," said Mr Sloly.

"Literally our officers were running toward live-fire incidents.

"The officer who found the female, now deceased, was seconds behind when she was shot and was able to provide CPR and do all he could to keep her alive."

Police believe there could be more victims who fled the scene and are urging anyone with any information to get in touch.