WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has said he and first lady Jill Biden were “heartbroken” over the attack on the US Capitol on Friday that left one police officer dead and another injured.
“Jill and I were heartbroken to learn of the violent attack at a security checkpoint on the grounds of the United States Capitol, which killed Officer William Evans of the United States Capitol Police and left a colleague behind. fighting for his life. ” President Biden it said in a statement.
“We send our deepest condolences to Officer Evans’ family and to all who mourn his loss.”
Biden said he knows how hard it’s been for him Capitol and everyone who works there and protects it. Friday’s incident came about three months after the January 6 uprising in which a Capitol police officer and four other people were killed.
Biden issued the statement of the Camp David Presidential Retreat, where he spends the weekend. He expressed his gratitude to the Capitol Police and National Guard troops for responding quickly to the attack.
President Joe Biden also ordered that the American flags at the White House be lowered to half mast until April 6 in honor of a United States Capitol police officer who was killed in the attack.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials said “terrorism is not suspected in a deadly standoff outside the US Capitol that began when a man rammed his car into two officers outside the Capitol and then emerged. wielding a knife. “
Assassinated US officer hailed as a ‘martyr’
The Capitol Police Officer, who died in the attack, was identified as an 18-year veteran of the force.
William Billy Evans joined the department in 2003 and was a member of its first aid unit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed Evans as a “martyr for our democracy,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “heartbroken.”
Death is the last moment of grief for an apartment after the loss of Brian Sicknick, who stood up to rioters during the January 6 insurrection and died a day later, and Howard Liebengood, who committed suicide weeks later.
The video shows the driver of the crashed car emerging with a knife in hand and starting to run towards the pair of officers, Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman told reporters.
Authorities shot the suspect, identified by law enforcement officers as 25-year-old Noah Green.
Investigators were running his background and examining whether he had any history of mental health problems while trying to discern a reason. They were working to obtain access orders to their accounts online.
The accident and shooting occurred at a security checkpoint near the Capitol that is commonly used by senators and staff during the week, although most are away from the building during the current recess.
The attack occurred about 100 yards (91 meters) from the building’s entrance on the Senate side of the Capitol. A witness, the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, said he was wrapping up a Good Friday service nearby when he suddenly heard three shots.
It comes as the Washington region remains nervous nearly three months after a mob of armed insurgents loyal to former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as Congress voted to certify Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
Five people were killed in the January 6 riot, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was among a greatly outnumbered force attempting to fight insurgents seeking to reverse the elections.
Authorities installed a high perimeter fence around the Capitol and restricted traffic on the roads closest to the building for months, but had begun to remove some of the emergency measures in recent weeks. The fence that prevented vehicular traffic near that area was recently removed.
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