US Capitol lockdown ends after report of woman with gun

Officer outside Washington DC building says police responded to as yet sketchy details

A US Capitol police officer holds a rifle outside the US Capitol Building during a security  lockdown in Washington DC, US, July 8th, 2016. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA
A US Capitol police officer holds a rifle outside the US Capitol Building during a security lockdown in Washington DC, US, July 8th, 2016. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

A security lockdown at the US Capitol building in Washington DC has been ended after a report of a woman who may have had a gun.

The Senate sergeant-at-arms said the alert had concluded shortly after it was issued for the building and visitor centre.

Capitol police had said they were searching for an individual but offered no details. An officer outside the Capitol said police were responding to sketchy reports of a woman who may have had a gun.

A House Democratic staffer said the sergeant-at-arms office had said there was a woman with a gun in a tunnel leading to the Rayburn House office building.

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House press gallery staff had said the building was on lockdown but that the House met briefly and immediately recessed. Scheduled voting had been postponed.

Press Association