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Parts of the United States Capitol have been locked down as police are negotiating with a man who claims to have an explosive device.
Police arrived to the scene outside of the Library of Congress on Thursday to reports of a man with an explosive device in a pickup truck, CNN reported.
Authorities on the scene are negotiating with the suspect, according to two law enforcement sources. The pickup truck the man drove to the scene does not have license plates, sources say.
Two Library of Congress buildings — the Jefferson and the Madison — and the Cannon House Office Building are being evacuated due to a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity, according to alerts sent to staffers viewed by CNN.
US Capitol Police on Twitter Thursday said they are responding to the incident of a “suspicious vehicle” near the Library of Congress.
The Senate and House are not in session and the majority of lawmakers are not in their Washington offices. The Supreme Court, which is not currently open to the public, has also been evacuated.
“This is an active bomb threat investigation. The staging area for journalists covering this situation is at Constitution and First Street, NW for your safety. Please continue to avoid the area around the Library of Congress,” The Capitol Police said.
MEDIA ALERT: This is an active bomb threat investigation. The staging area for journalists covering this situation is at Constitution and First Street, NW for your safety.
Please continue to avoid the area around the Library of Congress. pic.twitter.com/jTNVaBmVwR
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) August 19, 2021
“We are still working this investigation. We will update you all as soon as we have information we can release to the public,” it said.
We are still working this investigation.
We will update you all as soon as we have information we can release to the public.
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) August 19, 2021
The Associated Press reported.
The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The area was blocked off by police cars and barricades, and multiple fire trucks and ambulances were staged nearby. Also responding were the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police, FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The White House said it was monitoring the situation and was being briefed by law enforcement.
“Multiple buildings evacuated near the U.S. Capitol in D.C. amid reports of a bomb in a truck near the Library of Congress,” Disclose.tv said with a video of the area.
UPDATE – Multiple buildings evacuated near the U.S. Capitol in D.C. amid reports of a bomb in a truck near the Library of Congress.pic.twitter.com/xrPmU6RnZb
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 19, 2021
“The FBI Washington Field Office’s National Capital Response Squad is responding with our partners, including @CapitolPolice, to reports of a suspicious vehicle and bomb threat near the Library of Congress,” The FBI Washington Field Office said on Twitter.
The FBI Washington Field Office's National Capital Response Squad is responding with our partners, including @CapitolPolice, to reports of a suspicious vehicle and bomb threat near the Library of Congress.
— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) August 19, 2021
The New York Times reported.
Shortly before 11 a.m., dozens of people flooded out of the Madison building, having been told by officers inside to leave the building.
“Everybody head south now,” a Capitol Police officer said as other officers ushered construction workers away from work in the road and asked diners outside a cafe to leave their tables.
Ultimately much of the crowd, some carrying laptops and tangled handfuls of charging cords and headphones, ended up in a park near the building, calling family members and figuring out how to get home.
“I have been briefed on the evolving situation near the Library of Congress. The @DCPoliceDept is assisting the U.S. Capitol Police in the response, and will provide an update when there is additional information to share. For now, please avoid the area near the Capitol,” Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Twitter.
I have been briefed on the evolving situation near the Library of Congress. The @DCPoliceDept is assisting the U.S. Capitol Police in the response, and will provide an update when there is additional information to share. For now, please avoid the area near the Capitol.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 19, 2021
“Police were investigating a report Thursday of a possible explosive device in a pickup truck outside the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill and have evacuated the area around the building, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press,” Newsmax said.
https://twitter.com/newsmax/status/1428366420333629440?s=20
“Police are investigating a report of a possible explosive device in a pickup truck near the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The area around the building has been evacuated,” The Associated Press said.
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1428360162998321159?s=20
