Police Officer Dies After Car Rams Barricade At US Capitol

A Capitol Police officer has died after a man rammed a car into a barricade outside the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. earlier today.

Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman told reporters both of the officers involved were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries, however, one of those had now died.

The suspect driving the car has also since died at hospital and police have said that there is no longer an ongoing threat.

The incident is also not believed, as yet, to be terror-related.

Authorities say the attack happened at a checkpoint close to the Capitol building. After crashing into the barricade, the driver then jumped out of the car brandishing a knife and was shot.

PA

Following the attack, National Guard troops were seen rushing down to the scene.

Congressman for Brooklyn and Queens Hakeem Jeffries shared his condolences with the families of the officers involved.

He said: "Deeply saddened to learn that a Capitol Police Officer has been killed today in the line of duty.

"May God watch over the officer's family and the entire Capitol Police department.

Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said: "The brave men and women of the United States Capitol Police put their lives on the line every day to protect the heart of our democracy.

"We are hoping and praying for the recovery of those injured in the line of duty."

According to reports, police have not made any immediate connection between today's events and the riots at the Capitol on 6 January, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building as Congress was voting to certify Joe Biden's presidential win.

Five people died in the attack: police officer Brian Sicknick, and Trump supporters 42, Ashli Babbitt, 35, Benjamin Phillips, 50, Kevin Greeson, 55, and Rosanne Boyland, 34.

Following the attack, the then President-elect Biden addressed the nation, calling for peace.

In the broadcast, he said: "They stormed the Capitol, they smashed windows, to occupy offices, the floor of the United States Senate, rummaging through desks.

"It's not protests, it's insurrection. The world's watching like so many other Americans. I'm generally shocked and saddened of our nation - so long the beacon of light and hope for democracy has come to such a dark moment."

Topics: Police, US Politics, Hospital, US News, crime, Politics

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom