Washington Police Investigating A Bomb Threat Near U.S. Capitol: Report
Washington police are currently investigating a bomb threat near the U.S. Capitol.
According to NPR, U.S. Capitol Police are conducting an active bomb threat investigation near the Library of Congress, across from the U.S. Capitol.
On Thursday, August 19, the Twitter account for the U.S. Capitol Police tweeted, “NOW: The USCP is responding to a suspicious vehicle near the Library of Congress. Please stay away from this area and follow this account for the latest information.”
Several streets in the area have been closed, and The Library of Congress evacuated the historic Jefferson Building. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said subway trains are now bypassing the nearby Capitol South station because of the investigation.
The social media account also wrote, “This is an ongoing investigation. We are monitoring this situation closely and will update this account as we get information we can release.”
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
The FBI Washington field office and negotiators — as well as agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — have responded to the active threat, according to the outlet.
Law enforcements said they have not seen anything of resemblance to explosives in the vehicle. However, the driver claimed to have explosives and said he is holding a detonator, CNBC reported. The unnamed man has been communicating with authorities on a dry erase board from inside the vehicle.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said negotiators are trying to come to a “resolution” with the man in the pickup truck and that the suspect had been live-streaming. Manger also shared that officials have a “possible name,” according to CNN, but said they "don’t have much information about him at this time."
Apart from The Library of Congress, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court said the building has been evacuated. A Republican National Committee spokeswoman also confirmed the RNC offices nearby were evacuated.
In addition, neither the House nor the Senate is in session and most lawmakers are not in their offices.
