BREAKING NEWS: Two Capitol cops are injured after car smashes into barrier on Independence Avenue
- A chopper has been flown in to remove injured people; it’s unclear how many there are or if there is an active shooting
- Witnesses have described a chaotic scene with police and EMT presence but the Capitol Police are yet to confirm any facts
- An external security threat alert was sent out to workers
- The two cops have been taken to the hospital and the driver is in custody
Two Capitol police officers have been injured after a car plowed through a barrier on Independence Avenue on Friday.
The driver was also injured and is in custody. Both of the cops have been taken to the hospital. It’s unclear what kind of condition they are in.
The incident sparked chaos at the Capitol on Friday afternoon and sent workers into lockdown.
There were confused reports at first of a shooting that had left three people injured but the US Capitol Police released a statement at around 1.30pm describing the incident as one involving a vehicle instead.
A Washington Post reporter tweeted that the suspect was shot.
Two Capitol cops were injured on Friday after a car smashed into a barrier on Independence Avenue
A helicopter landing on the East Front of the Capitol on Friday amid reports of a person being shot
This text was sent to government workers at the Complex on Friday afternoon
‘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,’ it said.
It comes only a few months after hundreds of rioters stormed the Capitol, outnumbering the police force, on January 6.
Neither the House or Senate is in session this week so lawmakers are back in their home states instead of being in the Capitol building.
The White House did not appear to have an immediate change in security posture in response to the situation at the Capitol. President Joe Biden had left to spend Easter at Camp David shortly before the incident occurred.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said there is a member of the national security team, an acting chief of staff and a member of the press team traveling with him, as is standard operating procedure.
Traveling with Biden this weekend are Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of StaffYohannes Abraham, Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary for the National Security Council; Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Advisor to the First Lady; and Stephen Goepfert, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President.
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