Police officer dies after man rams car into US Capitol barricades

One police officer died along with the driver of a vehicle that rammed barricades at the US Capitol Building on Friday, provoking a lockdown at the seat of Congress.

Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of the United States Capitol Police, said a suspect and one US Capitol Police officer had died while a second officer was hospitalised after the incident, which happened just after 1pm EDT.

“The suspect rammed his car into two of our officers, and then hit the North Barricade barrier. At such time the suspect exited the vehicle with a knife in hand,” she said in a press briefing.

Pittman said the suspect did not respond to verbal commands and was shot by police after lunging towards them.

The attack against US Capitol Police on Friday comes less than three months after the January 6 assault on Congress by pro-Trump supporters trying to block the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. One Capitol Police officer was killed after sustaining injuries during the assault.

“This has been an extremely difficult time for US Capitol Police after the events of January 6 and now the events that have occurred here today,” Pittman said. “So I ask that you keep our US Capitol Police family in your thoughts and prayers.”

The officer who died has yet to be named, pending notification next-of-kin.

Metropolitan Police chief Robert Contee said his force was looking into the motive of this “senseless act” and added there did not appear to be an ongoing threat.

Anthony Coley, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, said US attorney-general Merrick Garland was “actively monitoring” the situation.

President Joe Biden had just arrived at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, when the attack occurred. Congress is on recess, so many lawmakers and their staffers were not around at the time of the attack.

The District of Columbia National Guard deployed an Immediate Reaction Force in response to the attack, providing a much faster response in support of the US Capitol Police than the military reserve did during the January 6 assault. It did not disclose any further details but said none of its officers had been hurt.

The IRF was already stationed at the Capitol among 2,300 National Guard personnel who have continued to guard the capital since security was increased after the January 6 assault.

Immediately after Friday’s attack, members of Congress reacted with dismay at the latest episode of violence against the US legislature, and expressed gratitude towards the US Capitol Police.

“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,” said Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic senator from Minnesota.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, said: “Praying for the United States Capitol Police officers who were attacked at the Capitol. We are still learning what’s taken place.”