White House and US Capitol building on lockdown after police officer is shot

Jamie Bullen29 March 2016

The White House and US Capitol building were placed on lockdown after a police officer was shot and injured.

Officials said a suspect had been arrested after the officer was wounded at the US Capitol's visitor centre when a man brandishing a gun tried to enter, it has been reported.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A Capitol Police officer, who asked not to be identified, said the male suspect had been detained and was being taken to hospital where it is understood he is undergoing surgery .

The Associated Press reported workers were told to not to leave their offices after gunshot blasts were heard nearby.

Washington's city police said described it as an "isolated incident" and added there was "no active threat" to the public.

Armed police cordoned off the streets immediately around the visitor centre, which were busy at the time with tourists visiting for spring holidays and the Cherry Blossom Festival.

The White House was also briefly placed on lockdown with Secret Service officials clearing tourists away from the building.

Rescue vehicles are seen in Washington after reports of gunfire at the Capitol visitor centre
Alex Brandon/AP

A report that a person tried to gain entry to the White House was incorrect, the U.S. Secret Service spokesman said.

Eyewitness Jill Epstein told CNBC: "I was with a group of my colleagues walking into the visitors center and as we were literally going through the metal detectors, people started screaming, 'Get out! Get out!' We didn't know which way to run.

We ran out and and they told us to get against the wall so we were crouching against the wall outside the visitors center.

Workers on Capitol Hill were told to stay in their offices as a precaution
Michael Reynolds/EPA

"Police appeared out of everywhere and they were screaming, 'Run for it! Run for it! Run up that ramp!'

"And we ran like you see in videos. It was surreal,"

Cathryn Leff a licensed therapist, tweeted that she was at the visitor's center when she heard gunshots while going through a security check point.

She posted: "That moment when it goes down . Everyone is screaming & running and you can't see where the #ShotsFired are from."

The shooting took place with Congress on recess with politicians back in their constituencies.

Earlier, President Barack Obama hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll, just a few hundred meters away from the visitor centre. The event was attended by 35,000 people.

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