Police officer dead as vehicle rams into US Capitol barricade

April 2, 2021 8:32 pm

U.S. Capitol Police officers stand near a car that crashed into a barrier on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, April 2, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A police officer has been killed, while another sustained injuries, after a car rammed into a barricade outside the US Capitol Hill on Friday afternoon.

The crash happened at a checkpoint near the Capitol, although congress is on recess.

According to Associated Press, the driver stabbed one of the officers before he was shot.

The Capitol police had earlier confirmed the incident in a post on its Twitter handle on Friday, noting that one suspect was in custody.

“CRITICAL INCIDENT: 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,” the police had earlier said in a tweet.

“Due to the external security threat at the North Barricade of the U.S. Capitol, the following road closures are in effect: Constitution Avenue between Second Street NE and First Street NW, First Street between Constitution Avenue NE and Independence Avenue SE.”

CRITICAL INCIDENT: 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. pic.twitter.com/4TXIdulJc6
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— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021

Due to the external security threat at the North Barricade of the U.S. Capitol, the following road closures are in effect:

-Constitution Avenue between Second Street NE and First Street NW.
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-First Street between Constitution Avenue NE and Independence Avenue SE.

— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021

The US Capitol complex was also placed on lockdown after the crash, and the staff were reportedly told they could not enter or leave the building.

The incident comes almost three months after the Capitol Hill was invaded by thousands of protesters during the process of certifying Joe Biden’s presidency.

Four persons lost their lives during the mob attack in January.