Senate buildings on lockdown as US Capitol Police search for possible ‘active shooter’
US Capitol Police are reportedly searching for a possible active shooter in the Senate office buildings after a ‘concerning 911 call’
‘Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating,’ tweeted the agency at 2.45pm on Wednesday. ‘We will continue to communicate with the public here.’
The agency wrote in another tweet: ‘If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place as the report was for a possible active shooter. It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots.’
Simultaneously, staff on Capitol Hill received an email from Capitol police about an ‘internal security threat’.
The email directed all Senate buildings staff to immediately ‘move inside your office or the nearest office’. Staff were told to ‘close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows’.
‘If you are in a public space, find a place to hide or seek cover,’ states the memo.
At around 2.30pm, the Metropolitan Police Department had ‘a call come in for an active shooter’, said Officer Hugh Carew.
‘It appears to be a bad call,’ said Carew. ‘No injuries and no shooter were located.’
The Metropolitan Police Department is assisting Capitol Police in the response and investigation.
The lockdown was initiated as most lawmakers are away from the Capitol for the August recess. While most staff return to their congressional districts during the break, some do go to their offices.
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