A Capitol police officer in Washington, DC, was killed and another was wounded Friday outside Congress headquarters after a person rammed them with a vehicle and then stabbed them with a knife.
The police shot him and he died after being detained and while being taken to the hospital along with the officers.
The Capitol police chief told a news conference a few hours later that the suspect
had previous offenses but had so far found no terrorist ties.
The investigation is in its preliminary phase.
The attack occurred at the North Barricade vehicle access point along Independence Avenue.
The Capitol, home to the House of Representatives and the Senate, was closed under a state of alert until approximately 3:15 pm Both congressmen and their staff were prohibited from leaving their buildings while what happened was clarified.
Congress is in recess this week, so lawmakers had returned to their states and were not working on the building at the time of the attack.
A car crashed into a barricade in front of the Capitol, injuring two police officers.
A heavy police presence quickly descended on the area.
Multiple ambulances arrived as well as several helicopters.
First responders removed two stretchers from an ambulance and a helicopter landed on the east front of the Capitol.
A perimeter of several streets around has been closed to the public and the press.
A message sent to the Congressional offices read, "Due to an external security threat," "No entry or exit is allowed at this time. You can move inside buildings, but stay away from exterior windows and doors.
Yes is outside, seek shelter. "
Security on Capitol Hill has been beefed up with additional security measures and staff in place since a crowd of Trump supporters stormed the compound during the Jan.6 electoral vote count ahead of a joint session of Congress.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest details of the situation, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, ordered that
the flags be flown at half mast
to commemorate the death of the police officer, according to her spokesman Drew Hammill.
The leader of the Republican minority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, expressed his concern in a message on the social network Twitter.
"I am praying for the US Capitol police officers who were attacked on Capitol Hill. We are still learning what has happened. I thank all the USCP officers and first responders who are on the scene."
News in development.