Shots Fired, US Capitol Locked Down

Published in Sonntags Blick
(Switzerland) on 11 April 2015
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Adam Yeomans. Edited by Emily France.
Code Red in Washington: Shots were fired today near the U.S. Capitol building. Initially, we were told that the shooter had been "neutralized." However, the police reported later that the man had killed himself.

After shots were fired near the United States Congress building in Washington, the relevant police authorities claim to have stopped the alleged shooter. According to spokesperson Kimberly Schneider, he had been "neutralized.”

The police reported later on, however, that the unknown man had committed suicide. He is reported to have shot himself. A high-ranking federal official also intimated that he had no documents on his person.

The Congress building and the visitor center attached to it were completely locked down as a security measure. In addition, a "suspicious package" was discovered on the west terrace. According to reports by the American television broadcaster NBC, this was a suitcase found near the gunman's body.

As Congress is currently in recess, there are only a few congressmen present in the American capital. However, there are a great deal of tourists in Washington at the moment as the famous cherry blossom season, which attracts visitors from all corners of the country to the area, is in full swing.


US-Kapitol nach Schüssen abgeriegelt

WASHINGTON (USA) - Alarm-Stufe rot in Washington: In der Nähe des US-Kapitols wurde heute geschossen. Zuerst hiess es, der Schütze sei «ausgeschaltet» worden. Später teilte die Polizei mit, er habe sich selber getötet.


Nach Schüssen in der Nähe des US-Kongress-Gebäudes in Washington hat die zuständige Polizei nach eigenen Angaben den mutmasslichen Schützen gestoppt. Laut der Sprecherin Kimberly Schneider wurde er «ausgeschaltet».

Die Polizei teilte später mit, dass der Unbekannte Suizid begangen hatte. Er habe sich mit einem einzelnen Schuss getötet. Bei ihm seien keine Papiere gefunden worden, hiess es unter Berufung auf einen ranghohen Bundesbeamten weiter.

Das Kongressgebäude und das dazugehörige Besucherzentrum wurden vorsichtshalber grossräumig gesperrt. Auf der Westterrasse war zudem «ein verdächtiges Paket» entdeckt worden. Nach Angaben des Senders NBC handelte es sich dabei um einen Koffer, der in der Nähe der Leiche entdeckt worden sei.

Der Kongress befindet sich in einer Sitzungspause, daher sind nur wenige Abgeordnete in der Hauptstadt. Allerdings halten sich derzeit besonders viele Touristen in Washington auf: Die berühmte Kirschblüte ist in vollem Gange. Sie zieht jedes Jahr Besucherinnen und Besucher aus allen Teilen des Landes an.
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