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Capitol Hill evacuations underway as police investigate ‘possible explosive’
US Capitol police in Washington DC are investigating reports of a threat near the Library of Congress. Police are investigating a possible explosive device in a truck near the US government building.
US Capitol Police said on Twitter: “The USCP is responding to a suspicious vehicle near the Library of Congress. Please stay away from this area and follow this account for the latest information.”
The Capitol police described it as an “active bomb threat investigation”.
Nearby Capitol office buildings have been evacuated. Both the House and the Senate are on recess, meaning most lawmakers are in their home states, but staffers and Library of Congress employees were working near the scene, prompting the evacuations. Police are also going door to door to alert residents in the area.
Police sent negotiators to speak to a man in the truck to determine if he was holding a detonator and officers were also working to ascertain if the explosive device was operable.
An eyewitness says she saw a man in a black pickup truck in front of the Library of Congress shouting that he had “a bomb” while tossing dollar bills out of the window.
Sydney Bobb, 22, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said she was on her way to a race in politics class near the Library of Congress at about 9.25am when she noticed a man in a black pickup truck shouting that he had a bomb.
“I was walking on that block because that’s where I go to class. He was shouting that he had a bomb. And then he threw money out the side of the truck,” Ms Bobb told The Independent by phone as she was being evacuated from her class.
Key Points Man threatening Capitol with bomb is throwing dollar bills and using whiteboard Livestream screenshot shows man in truck as voter record reveals he first voted in 2016 Facebook removes livestream of Capitol bomb suspect Scene at police line largely quiet despite drama unfolding behind barricades Image from witness shows alleged suspect in truck
Show latest update 1629395687 Facebook ‘continuing to investigate’ account of alleged suspect
Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Facebook, said the social media company had removed the account of the alleged Capitol bomb threat suspect, who was allowed to livestream his anti-government and pro-Trump message on the platform for hours.
David Taintor 19 August 2021 18:54
1629394973 Capitol police say they are ‘still working’ on investigation
Capitol police provided a brief update, noting only that they are still working on the investigation and will share more information when possible.
David Taintor 19 August 2021 18:42
1629394108 Livestream screenshot shows man in truck
A screenshot from the livestream that was later removed from Facebook shows the apparent suspect in the active bomb threat investigation outside the Library of Congress.
The suspect in the bomb threat at the US Capitol posted a live-stream to Facebook
(Facebook)
In his livestream, he expressed broad anti-government views and claimed to have a propane tank in his pickup truck.
A pickup truck is parked on the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building, as seen from a window of the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Washington.
(AP)
19 August 2021 18:28
1629393086 Facebook removes livestream of Capitol bomb suspect
The Capitol bomb suspect was streaming live on Facebook, but the video has now been removed from the site.
The man was expressing anti-government views and demanding to speak to President Joe Biden.
MSNBC reported that the man is from North Carolina and has a previous criminal record.
He claimed to have a propane tank in his pickup truck, but no officers have been able to spot any explosive materials.
Negotiations with the suspect are ongoing.
Gustaf Kilander 19 August 2021 18:11
1629391669 Image shows alleged suspect in truck
Sydney Bobb, 22, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said she was on her way to a race in politics class near the Library of Congress at about 9.25am when she noticed a man in a black pickup truck shouting that he had a bomb.
An eyewitness photo from near the Library of Congress shows the alleged suspect threatening the Capitol area with potential explosives.
(Sydney Bobb)
“I was walking on that block because that’s where I go to class. He was shouting that he had a bomb. And then he threw money out the side of the truck,” Ms Bobb told The Independent by phone as she was being evacuated from her class.
Bevan Hurley 19 August 2021 17:47
1629391422 Scene at police line largely quiet despite drama unfolding behind barricades
Despite the drama unfolding inside, the scene at the police line on 3rd Street and Independence Avenue remained largely quiet, save for some brief activity around noon when Capitol Police briefed reporters.
A few minutes after the presser ended, an EMS vehicle was seen arriving at the scene and being ushered through the police barricade.
The building was not at its usual capacity as most members were out of town for recess, but numerous staffers were still in the building as the house prepares to vote on the president’s infrastructure packages in the weeks ahead.
A handful of tourists also gawked at the scene for a few minutes but largely passed by without giving notice.
Law enforcement officers with rifles take position near the US Capitol building in Washington DC as police investigate a possible explosive device in a truck near the heart of American government
(AP)
(AFP via Getty Images)
John Bowden 19 August 2021 17:43
1629390583 DC police evacuating residents around Library of Congress
Gustaf Kilander 19 August 2021 17:29
1629390412 Suspect claims to have propane tank in vehicle but law enforcement have not seen any explosive material
Gustaf Kilander 19 August 2021 17:26
1629390020 Police responded to ‘disturbance call’ as man drove onto sidewalk outside Library of Congress around 9.15am
Gustaf Kilander 19 August 2021 17:20
1629389718 Capitol Police chief says suspect appeared to have detonator in his hand and told officer he had a bomb
Capitol Police chief Thomas Manger, who only joined the department in July, said during a short press briefing that after 9am this morning, the bomb suspect outside the Library of Congress appeared to have a detonator in his hand, and told an officer that he had a bomb.
“We don’t know what his motives are at this time,” the chief said, adding that the negotiations with the suspect are “ongoing”.
Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police, the FBI, the ATF, and DC Fire and EMS are all responding to the situation.
Gustaf Kilander 19 August 2021 17:15
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