‘Active shooter’ fears in US Senate office buildings after Capitol police receive ‘concerning 911 call’
WASHINGTON DC police have searched United States Senate office buildings after fears of a possible active shooter sparked.
US Capitol Police received a “concerning 911 call,” Wednesday afternoon, prompting them to comb in and around the buildings as those inside sheltered in place.
Capitol Police later said that there was no active shooter, according to ABC.
Officials were “getting ready to clear the scene” with “nothing found,” a DC fire department spokesman told the Washington Post at around 3.15pm.
“A call came in for an active shooter. It appears to be a bad call. No injuries and no shooter were located,” a source told ABC.
No one was allowed to enter or exit the building unless given instructed by officials, according to authorities.
“Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating,” Capitol Police wrote in a post on Twitter, at 2.45pm.
“It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots,” the agency added in a later tweet.
There was a large police presence in the basement of the Capitol, NBC posted at around 3pm.
Senate staffers were told to take emergency equipment and visitors to the nearest office, according to an email sent to staffers from Capitol Police, which was obtained by Spectrum News DC.
Staffers are meant to lock any external doors and windows and remain quiet, the email said.
Russell Senate Office Building has been evacuated, according to Politico.
Founder of Punchbowl News, Jake Sherman, posted a video on Twitter of people reportedly being evacuated from the Senate office buildings with their hands up.
The DC Fire and EMS Department told Fox that Russell Senate Office Building is likely experiencing a mental health situation rather than an active shooter.
Staffers from the Dirksen Senate Office Building were also seen evacuating with their hands up, according to the Washington Post.
There are three Senate buildings in Washington DC known as Russell Building, Dirksen Building, and Hart Building.
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