An assailant armed with a rifle has shot and wounded a guard inside Washington DC's Holocaust museum before being wounded in turn, city police say.
A gunman armed with a rifle has shot and wounded a guard inside Washington DC's Holocaust museum before being wounded in turn, city police say.
Both have been taken to hospital where their condition is unknown, a police spokeswoman told the Associated Press.
Both are being treated in hospital where their condition is unknown after the incident, which sowed panic among visitors to the museum.
No details were given of the "shooter" other than that a rifle was used.
No details were given of the "shooter" other than that a rifle was used.
Located on the US capital's National Mall, the Holocaust Memorial Museum is a national institution visited by 30 million visitors since opening in 1993.
Located on the National Mall, the Holocaust Memorial Museum has seen 30 million visitors since opening in 1993.
Reports suggest a third person was also hurt but it is unclear if the injuries were caused by gunfire or broken glass.
Reports suggest a third person was also hurt but it is unclear if the injuries were caused by gunfire or broken glass.
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed.
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed.
Children evacuated
'Screaming and ducking'
One eyewitness, Angela Andelson, 22, told AFP news agency: "I heard a shot and though it was sort of a loud, like someone had dropped something.
I see all these security guards kind of like ducking Angela Andelson eyewitness
"And I see all these security guards kind of like ducking. I kind of glanced again and saw a gunman coming in... a long-looking kind of gun. I just ran in to one of the exhibits to try to take cover.
"I heard the first one. When I turned and looked there were maybe two to four more shots that I heard. People were screaming and ducking down getting on the floor, getting under benches."
Students on a school trip heard several gunshots before they were evacuated from the building, the mother of a Massachusetts teenager told the Associated Press.
Students on a school trip heard several gunshots before they were evacuated from the building, the mother of a Massachusetts teenager told the Associated Press.
Sandy Perkins said her daughter Abigail had called her shortly after the shooting.
Sandy Perkins said her daughter Abigail had called her shortly after the shooting.
Some of her friends were very shaken but all were otherwise fine, the mother said.
Some of her friends were shaken but all were otherwise fine, the mother said.
None of the children saw where the shots were coming from before they were safely evacuated to buses outside the museum.
None of the children saw where the shots were coming from before they were safely evacuated to buses outside the museum.
The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside.
The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside.
All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.
All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.
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