A police officer was shot and wounded on Monday in the US Capitol complex and the gunman was captured, a source citing information from the Sergeant-at-Arms office in Congress said.
Gunshots were heard in the US Capitol Visitors Center and workers were told to shelter and there was confusion in early accounts about what had occurred.
The source said the officer’s wounds were not serious.
A US Capitol Police officer, who asked not to be identified, said the suspected shooter was being transported to hospital. The officer did not identify or describe the suspect and added there were no additional suspects.
Congress is in recess, with few politicians currently in Washington, but the shooting happened just a few hours after a drill for an active shooter took place at the Capitol - creating further confusion.
Cathryn Leff, a licensed therapist, tweeted that she was at the visitors' centre when she heard gunshots while going through a security checkpoint.
“That moment when it goes down. Everyone is screaming & running and you can’t see where the #ShotsFired are from,” tweeted Leff.
The Secret Service temporarily cleared tourists from an area surrounding the White House after the incident, but activities quickly went back to normal.
Reuters