US - 'Shots heard' in Capitol office

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Friday, 26 May 2006,

15:31 GMT 16:31 UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Shots heard' in Capitol office

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police in Washington DC say they are investigating after the sound of

gunfire was heard in a House of Representatives office building.

The US Capitol has been sealed off and people in the building

have been told not to move.

The apparent shots were heard at the garage level of the Rayburn

building, which houses offices of members of the US House of Representatives.

 

No casualties have been reported, and police are searching the

area.

The Rayburn building is on the other side of Independence

Avenue from the Capitol complex. It is connected to the complex by

underground passages.

'Smell

of gunpowder'

Senate Sergeant at Arms Bill Pickle told Reuters news agency

there were no reports of any arrests or injuries.

" We have been told by staff of shots fired and the smell of

smoke in the lobby of the Rayburn House building, " Mr Pickle said.

" Police responded to the area

where they believed the shots came from and smelled what seemed to be

gunpowder, " he added.

The House of Representatives is not in session, but a committee

hearing was going on at the time of the incident.

Representative Peter Hoekstra, conducting the hearing, told

Associated Press he interrupted a witness to request those attending to

remain in the room and ordered the doors closed.

" It's a little unsettling

to get a Blackberry message put in front of you that says there's gunfire in

the building, " he said.

Eric Tamarkin, a congressman's assistant,

said security in the area was extremely strict. He said there were police

checks in place on the surrounding roads.

Some witnesses have pointed out there is a firing range in the

same building and on the same level as the garage. Others suggest the sounds

heard could have been a car backfiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5021114.stm

 

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