Washington, Feb 27 (IANS): An employee of a beer brewery in the US state of Wisconsin shot dead five of his colleagues before killing himself, police said.

The incident took place on Wednesday at the Milwaukee campus of beer brewer Molson Coors, whose chief executive officer, Gavin Hattersley, told employees in an email that the gunman was "an active employee" at the facility, reports Xinhua news agency.

Milwaukee Police Department said in a news release that it "received multiple calls of a shooting" at 2.08 p.m. and found six fatalities upon arrival at the scene, including the 51-year-old shooter, who "died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound".

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are assisting the investigative effort of the Milwaukee Police Department, which has not yet determined the motive behind the shooting and said there was no active threat.

Earlier it was reported that seven people were killed in the shooting.

President Donald Trump offered condolences at a news conference inside the White House press room.

"Our hearts break for them, we send our condolences," Trump said.

"It's a terrible thing. Our hearts go out to the people of Wisconsin and their families."

Molson Coors campus in Milwaukee is also a major tourist attraction exemplifying the city's rich history of beer brewing.