A US police officer and the suspect in an attack near the US Capitol building in Washington are dead, a senior police officer says.
Law enforcement officers investigate the scene after a vehicle charged a barricade at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
The US Capitol building went into lockdown today after a vehicle tried to ram through a Capitol security barrier.
The suspect then got out of the vehicle with a knife in hand and tried to "lunge" toward the two police officers present, said US Capitol Police acting chief Yogananda Pittman.
After the suspect did not respond to vocal commands from the officer, the officers opened fire.
The suspect was taken into custody and died in hospital.
The lockdown was lifted about 8.30am New Zealand time about two hours after the incident began.
The US Capitol Police has released the name of the officer killed in today's attack.
A statement from Pittman reads: "It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Officer William 'Billy' Evans this afternoon from injuries he sustained following an attack at the North Barricade by a lone assailant."
It goes on to say the officer was a member of the Capitol police force for 18 years.
"Please keep Officer Evans and his family in your thoughts and prayers," the statement says.
Pittman asked people during an earlier briefing to media to "keep US Capitol police and their families in your prayers".
US Capitol Police acting chief Yogananda Pittman addresses a media briefing near the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
"It does not appear to be terrorism-related but obviously we'll continue to investigate," said Robert Contee, acting chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington.
Dozens of police cars, marked and unmarked, raced toward the iconic domed white building, in an unwelcome reminder of 6 January, when thousands of supporters of then-president Donald Trump overran the complex.
A police officer responds to the security incident near the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
Police said they did not yet know what had motivated the attacker, and they had not identified him.
"Clearly this was someone who was actively trying to just get at whoever or whatever - we just don't know right now, so we have a responsibility to investigate that to get to the bottom of this. Whether the attack was at law enforcement, or whoever, we have a responsibility to get to the bottom of it and we'll do that," Contee said.
Police block a street near the US Capitol. Photo: AFP
US President Joe Biden said he was heartbroken that a police officer was killed in the incident, the White House said in a statement.
Biden said he has been receiving ongoing briefings on the incident and will be getting further updates as the investigation proceeds.
The statement said Biden has ordered the White House flags be lowered to half-mast in honour of Officer Evans.
"Today's incident at the Capitol reminds us of the threats still facing our nation," tweeted Michigan Republican Fred Upton.
"My thoughts are with these brave officers and their families," wrote Democrat Eric Swalwell. "They've sacrificed a tremendous amount over the last few months and we are forever indebted to them."
Scores of other lawmakers also tweeted their thoughts and prayers for the officers.
This is the second Capitol police officer to die on duty this year. Officer Brian Sicknick was beaten with flagpoles and other objects by pro-Trump rioters at the Capitol on 6 January.
The death today is also only the fourth time a Capitol officer has died defending the Hill. Previously, two were killed in 1998 in an isolated incident.
National Guard troops have been at the US Capitol since the attack on 6 January.
Some have gone back, but a spokesperson for the Washington DC National Guard has confirmed about 2300 troops remain in DC.
The spokesperson confirmed the Guard have deployed a "Quick Reactionary Force" around the complex.
Footage of the scene has shown a helicopter flying overhead and what appeared to be two people on stretchers being moved into ambulances.
Onlookers have been told to clear the area.
Congress is currently in recess, meaning the majority of lawmakers are not at the Capitol today.
President Joe Biden left Washington earlier in the day for Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. Some reporters, maintenance workers and Capitol Hill employees are likely still on the Capitol grounds.
Shortly after 1pm local time the Capitol police alert system sent an email to lawmakers and their staff ordering them to stay away from exterior windows and doors. Anyone outside was instructed to seek cover.
Emergency vehicles at the scene. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
The entry point on Constitution Avenue where the vehicle struck the barricade is directly where Senators and their staff come to the Capitol each day, according to observers.
The FBI's Washington Field Office is responding to the situation and is now providing support to the Capitol Police. The US Attorney General is also aware of the incident and is being updated, according to CBS News.
The incident comes nearly three months after the deadly 6 January riot at the Capitol.
Authorities have begun only in the past two weeks to remove the outer ring of high, razor-wire-topped fencing erected around the sprawling Capitol complex after the riots in early January.
- BBC