SUSPECT AND POLICE OFFICER DEAD AFTER SECURITY BREACH AT US CAPITOL

Sat 03 April 2021:

Two individuals died in the latest attack on the US Capitol, including the suspect and a police officer who was injured in the incident, acting US Capitol Police (USPC) Chief Yogananda Pittman said at a press briefing.

“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,” Pittman said on Friday. “Our officers then engaged that suspect. He did not respond to verbal commands.

The suspect did start lunging toward US Capitol Police officers at which time US Capitol Police officers fired upon the suspect. At this time the suspect has been pronounced deceased.”

She added that one of the two police officers rammed by the vehicle died from his injuries. The Capitol Police later said the officer who died was 18-year veteran William Evans.

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said in the press conference that the attack does not appear to be terrorism-related, but the investigation is ongoing and investigators will continue to see if there’s any links to terrorism.

Contee added that there appears to be no ongoing threat following the attack.

CRITICAL INCIDENT: USCP is responding to the North Barricade vehicle access point along Independence Avenue for reports someone rammed a vehicle into two USCP officers. A suspect is in custody. Both officers are injured. All three have been transported to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/4TXIdulJc6

— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 2, 2021

Security at the Capitol has been heavy since a mob attacked police and overran security checkpoints on January 6 after attending a political rally organised by former President Donald Trump.

A wide perimeter around the Capitol was sealed off after the riot with tall fencing topped with razor wire and guarded by police and the National Guard. After weeks of debate about loosening security measures, the enhanced fencing and increased security personnel had begun to be removed last month.

Security fencing remains around the Capitol building itself and it is not clear how the suspect got his vehicle past that perimeter before crashing into the vehicle barricade.

A US Capitol Police officer and an unidentified suspect are dead following a vehicle-ramming attack at the Capitol complex. The incident does not appear to be terrorism-related, police say pic.twitter.com/8YHiuK8u8A

— TRT World (@trtworld) April 2, 2021

Police said the man was driving a blue sedan when he rammed his vehicle into the North Barricade just after 1:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. GMT).

Four senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation have named the suspect as 25-year-old Noah Green, according to NBC News.

So far, there are few details about who he was but an investigation has been launched to work out the motive behind the attack.

Green, originally thought to be from Indiana, lived in Covington, Virginia.

Suspect Noah Green.

National Guard presence in Washington, DC has been dwindling in recent weeks, but enough remained to surround the Capitol’s entire premises.

The White House said President Joe Biden is aware of the incident, and was not in the area at the time. He arrived at Camp David at 12:53 p.m. EST where he is spending the Easter weekend, media said citing spokesperson Jen Psaki.

Biden in a statement expressed condolences and said he ordered the White House flag to be lowered at half-mast.

Veteran William Evans

“I have been receiving ongoing briefings from my Homeland Security Adviser and will be getting further updates as the investigation proceeds,” Biden said in a press release on Friday.

In separate statements, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Evans a “martyr for democracy,” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the US “will forever be indebted,” to the officer killed.

US Vice President Kamala Harris in a statement described the attack as an “inexplicable act of violence.” She also made reference to the January 6 Capitol Hill riots.

“We continue to be proud of the courageous men and women who defend the Capitol, especially during a challenging period when they have faced two violent and deadly attacks,” Harris said early Friday evening.

Just two hours before the attack, according to CNN, the suspect posted a video on his Instagram account with a caption that said: “The US Government is the #1 enemy of Black people!”