Two National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday.
FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters at the scene that both victims were in “critical condition.”
What do we know about the shootings in Washington DC?
Patel said the shooting occurred at around 2:15 pm local time (1915 GMT).
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told a press conference that West Virginia National Guard soldiers were shot in a “targeted attack.”
Meanwhile, police in the US capital said, “The scene is secure. A suspect is in custody.”
Emergency vehicles were seen responding to the area and at least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially said both guardsmen had died, but later posted on Twitter that his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their conditions.
The shooting occurred near the Farragut Metro station, less than two blocks from the White House.
From Washington, DW’s Benjamin Alvarez described a “huge police presence”, with officers cordoning off the scene and emergency vehicles’ lights flashing, while helicopters could be heard overhead.
What did the US government say on the firing?
The Pentagon said it would send an additional 500 troops to the US capital in response to the shootings.
Regarding the additional military deployment, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “It will only strengthen our resolve to make sure we make Washington DC safe and beautiful.”
The additional troops will bring the number of National Guard troops in the US capital to more than 2,500.
“Two National Guardsmen have been shot, seriously wounded,” Hegseth told reporters, before adding that the incident was “a cowardly, dastardly act.”
White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt said US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation.
In a post on his own social media platform, Truth Social, Trump described the suspect, who has not been publicly identified, as an “animal.”
Noem posted on Twitter that the Department of Homeland Security is “working with local law enforcement to gather more information.”
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez, Carl Sexton