A gunman armed with a rifle has shot and killed 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 killed a guard inside Washington DC's Holocaust museum before being wounded in turn, city police say.
The guard died of his injuries and the gunman is in critical condition, officials said after the incident which sowed panic among visitors.
The guard died of his injuries and the gunman is in critical condition, officials said after the incident which sowed panic among visitors.
Reports say the gunman is an American aged 89 with white supremacist links.
Reports say the gunman is an American aged 89 with white supremacist links.
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
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.
Israel's embassy in Washington condemned the attack on the museum, saying it was "shocked and saddened".
Israel's embassy in Washington condemned the attack on the museum, saying it was "shocked and saddened".
US President Barack Obama was "saddened" by the incident, the White House said.
US President Barack Obama was "saddened" by the incident, the White House said.
Suspect named
Suspect named
Officials said they were investigating for any possible connection with terrorism or hate crime.
The dead security guard was named as Stephen Tyrone Johns, who had worked at the museum for six years and "died in the line of duty", the museum said.
James Von Brunn served time in prison for a 1981 gun incident
James Von Brunn served time in prison for a 1981 gun incident
Law enforcement officials said they were investigating for any possible connection with terrorism or hate crime.
Metropolitan Police Chief Kathy Lanier said the gunman appeared to have acted alone.
Metropolitan Police Chief Kathy Lanier said the gunman appeared to have acted alone.
He was "engaged by security guards immediately after entering the door" with a rifle, she said.
He was "engaged by security guards immediately after entering the door" with a rifle, she said.
Earlier, Police Sergeant David Schlosser said the gunman had walked into the building carrying "a long gun".
Earlier, Police Sergeant David Schlosser said the gunman had walked into the building carrying "a long gun".
"[He] fired at one of the security officers..." he told reporters.
"[He] fired at one of the security officers..." he told reporters.
"My understanding is that two other security officers at the museum returned gunfire at the man that had entered the museum."
"My understanding is that two other security officers at the museum returned gunfire at the man that had entered the museum."
James Von Brunn was being investigated as a potential suspect in the shooting, an unnamed law enforcement official told the Associated Press.
James Von Brunn 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.
Another law enforcement official said Mr Von Brunn's vehicle had been found near the museum and was being tested for explosives.
Mr Von Brunn has long been tied to extremist groups and served a prison sentence for taking a sawn-off shotgun, revolver and knife into Washington's Federal Reserve in 1981, when the board was meeting.
Mr Von Brunn has long been tied to extremist groups and served a prison sentence for taking a sawn-off shotgun, revolver and knife into Washington's Federal Reserve in 1981, when the board was meeting.
He has a racist, anti-Semitic website and has written a book about the "destruction of the White Race".
He has a racist, anti-Semitic website and has written a book about the "destruction of the White Race".
'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.
The museum's flags are to be flown at half mast on Thursday.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.
The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.
