Suspects with machine gun prompt U.S. Capitol lockdown

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By BNO NEWS

The U.S. Capitol and the visitor’s center were briefly put on lockdown Tuesday when a car was pulled over in the vicinity of the Department of Labor and a weapon was found, officials say. Two people have been taken into custody.

The alert was issued just after 4:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday when police stopped a car near the the Labor Department They found a machine gun inside the vehicle, after which one was arrested while the second man fled the scene. He was apprehended a short time later.

The incident prompted U.S. Capitol Police to issue a lockdown for the entire complex, as well as the Visitor’s Center. By 4:30 p.m. ET, people inside the Capitol were allowed to move around again though entry and exit was blocked until 4:50 p.m., when the lockdown was lifted.

Some witnesses reported hearing a loud bang at the start of the incident, but it may have been the result of the suspect’s car hitting something rather than a shot being fired. There were no immediate reports of any injuries as a result of Tuesday’s incident.

In March, the U.S. Capitol was also placed on lockdown after a man carrying a gun was shot and taken into custody at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. That incident prompted a lockdown of the entire complex as well as the White House. A bystander was injured in that incident.

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