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.
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 are being treated in hospital where their condition is unknown after the incident, which sowed panic among visitors to the museum.
Both are being treated in hospital where their condition is unknown after the incident, which sowed panic among visitors to the museum.
Unconfirmed US reports say the gunman is 89 and linked to white supremacists.
The gunman is said to be in his late 80s and linked to white supremacists.
Located on the National Mall, the Holocaust Memorial Museum has seen 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.
I see all these security guards kind of like ducking Angela Andelson eyewitness
I see all these security guards kind of like ducking Angela Andelson eyewitness
The gunman walked into the building carrying "a long gun", said Police Sergeant David Schlosser.
"[He] fired at one of the security officers. So, both that security officer and the gunman have received gunshot wounds," he told reporters.
"My understanding is that two other security officers at the museum returned gunfire at the man that had entered the museum."
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed.
Roads surrounding the museum have been closed.
A third person was hurt by broken glass, a fire official said.
A third person was hurt by broken glass, a fire official said.
Police are still out in force around the museum, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports from Washington.
Police are still out in force around the museum, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports from Washington.
Suspect named
The gunman walked into the building carrying "a long gun", said Police Sergeant David Schlosser.
"[He] fired at one of the security officers. So, both that security officer and the gunman have received gunshot wounds," he told reporters.
"My understanding is that two other security officers at the museum returned gunfire at the man that had entered the museum."
James Von Brunn, an elderly white supremacist, was being investigated as a potential suspect in the shooting, an unnamed law enforcement official told the Associated Press.
Another law enforcement official said Mr Von Brunn's vehicle had been found near the museum and was being tested for explosives.
The two officials were not authorised to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition that they remain anonymous.
Mr Von Brunn's name was also reported by major US TV channels.
Now said to be 88 or 89, he has long been tied to extremist groups and served a prison sentence for taking a shotgun into Washington's Federal Reserve in 1981.
'Screaming and ducking'
'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.
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.
Some 1.7 million people visit the museum each year
Some 1.7 million people visit the museum each year
"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.
"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."
"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 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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