Streets surrounding the US Capitol and congressional office buildings in Washington DC were locked down, with a heavy police presence, on Friday because of a security threat, an eyewitness said, while Capitol police said they were responding to reports that a motorist had tried to run down two officers.
Capitol police said they were responding to reports that someone rammed a vehicle into two officers and a suspect was in custody. “Both officers are injured. All three have been transported to the hospital,” their statement said.
Dozens of police cars, marked and unmarked, raced toward the Capitol building. All roads leading to the complex were blocked by police or police officers.
CRITICAL INCIDENT: USCP is responding to the North Barricade vehicle access point along Independence Avenue for reports someone rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers. A suspect is in custody. Both officers are injured. All three have been transported to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/4TXIdulJc6
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021
A helicopter was seen hovering overhead and observers were ordered to leave the area. Videos from the scene showed what looked like two people on stretchers being loaded into ambulances.
Authorities have begun only in the past couple of weeks to remove the outer ring of high, razor-wire-topped fencing erected around the sprawling Capitol complex after an attack on January 6th by thousands of supporters of then-president Donald Trump.
The US Capitol police were not immediately available to comment.
More to follow...
