US police hunt alleged cop killer in mountains

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - United States police hunting a former cop accused of killing three people searched a series of abandoned mountain cabins on Friday on the slopes above a snow-bound ski resort, at the centre of a massive manhunt.

But while the focus of the search remained on the resort of Big Bear, there was also a major lockdown in Los Angeles after a reported sighting not far from the LA Police Department (LAPD) headquarters.

More than 100 officers have been searching in the mountains since Thursday for Christopher Dorner, 33, who threatened in a chilling online manifesto to kill police and their families in revenge for his sacking five years ago.

The manhunt for Dorner - described as armed and "extremely dangerous" - continued through the night and into a second day in and around Big Bear, two hours east of Los Angeles, after his burnt-out car was found in nearby woods.