False Alarm: US Capitol Office Buildings Cleared After Security Scare

About 4 hours after authorities began warning of an active shooter in the wake of a 911 call, they issued a shelter-in-place order late Tuesday and searched Senate office buildings near the US Capitol early Wednesday afternoon. But officials described a thorough search of the buildings as inconclusive, and law enforcement officers said they were convinced the security scare “might have been a bogus call.”

The manager said they found nothing concerning during the search, and there were no reports of shots fired or any victims. The incident comes amid stepped-up security concerns due to former President Donald Trump’s indictment over attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Trump is due in federal court Thursday, just a few blocks from the Capitol.

Authorities in Washington say they were ready for an eventual indictment and had a security plan if there were any disturbances by Trump supporters while the legal proceedings were going on.

A police official said officers received a call about a “heavyset Hispanic male wearing body armor” inside the Hart Senate Office Building. Capitol Police did a floor-by-floor search of the huge buildings as officers evacuated people and told them to seek shelter.

Later, after about 90 minutes, all three Senate office buildings were cleared, hence the call being determined false. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are at present in recess, thus giving a feeling of lesser crowding despite being within work hours.