Florida shooting

The suspect has been named as Nikolas Cruz, 19, and is a former student at the school who had been expelled.

As the attack unfolded students were forced to hide as police swooped in on the building.

It is one of the deadliest school shootings since 26 people were killed at a Connecticut school in 2012.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters Cruz killed three people outside the school, before entering the building and killing another 12.

Two people later died after being taken to hospital.

The suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon, a Broward County sheriff's spokesman said. The spokesman would not say if the suspect was a student.

"There are numerous fatalities. It's a horrific situation," Broward Country Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told reporters.

He said the school district had no warning of a potential shooter and that there was no evidence of more than one shooter.