WASHINGTON – A police officer was killed at the Pentagon’s mass transit terminal yesterday in an incident that forced the lockdown of the United States military headquarters, said the Defence Department.
Employees in the Pentagon building in Arlington, a suburb here, were ordered to shelter in place for more than an hour after gunfire erupted in the bus and subway station just metres from the entrance.
Officials said the site was secure 90 minutes after the incident, but declined to explain what happened.
“The incident is over, the scene is secure, and most importantly, there’s no continuing threat to our community,” said Woodrow Kusse, chief of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, which patrols the iconic five-sided building.
He said there are “several injuries”, but did not provide details or confirm reports that the officer was stabbed and died from his injuries, and that the attacker was shot dead.
“This fallen officer died in the line of duty, helping protect the tens of thousands of people who work in – and who visit – the Pentagon on a daily basis,” said Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement.
“He and his fellow officers are members of the Pentagon family, and known to us all as professional, skilled and brave.”
He said the probe into the incident is continuing, and that it should “proceed unimpeded and without speculation”.
Subway services have been temporarily suspended and buses headed to the station diverted to other stops.
Scores of police officers gathered outside George Washington University Hospital where the officer was taken.
“The Pentagon is currently under lockdown due to an incident at the Pentagon Transit Centre. We are asking the public to please avoid the area,” tweeted the building’s security forces after the incident took place at 10.37am (1437 GMT).
Arlington County emergency services said they encountered “multiple” people needing treatment at the scene, without providing more information.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Austin was out of the building at the time, in a meeting with President Joe Biden. – AFP, August 4, 2021
