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A police officer was killed and a colleague was injured after they were beaten in front of Congress. The driver, who came out with a knife in his hand, was shot and is also dead.
Congressional police are investigating the car that was used to run over two police officers in front of Congress. Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite / AP / NTB
The agents were guarding a barricade and collided when a car approached them and collided with the barrier on Good Friday.
One of the officers died at the hospital, reports Acting Congressional Police Chief Yogananda Pittman.
The man driving the car was shot and killed after he jumped out of the car and threw himself at the two officers with a knife.
According to early police reports, the man managed to stab one of the policemen before he was shot, but two policemen told the AP news agency Saturday night that it is unclear if the knife came into contact with any. of the agents. , in part because the car had hit the officers with great force.
– Not related to terror
The perpetrator is identified as Noah Green, a 25-year-old black man from the state of Indiana.
There is no immediate indication of the motive for the act and the police do not know it, says Pittman.
Although the man appeared to have run over police officers on purpose, it does not appear to be a terrorism-related case, but of course we will continue to investigate, says Washington Police Chief Robert Contee.
Some of Green’s messages on the Internet in March suggest despair and paranoia. He wrote that he is unemployed and has health problems, and referred to several biblical quotes about the end of time.
Supporters of the Islamist movement
He wrote that he had faced “unimaginable trials” and was now “in search of a spiritual journey.”
In one of the messages, he wrote that he had been tortured by the FBI and the CIA, hospitalized and subjected to “brain control”, and called the government “the greatest enemy of blacks.”
He also wrote that he is a supporter of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, an African-American movement that promotes black nationalism and is anti-white and anti-Semitic.
– Martyr of democracy
The cop who died identifies himself as William Evans. He had served in the police force for 18 years.
“Pray for Officer Evans and his family,” Pittman said in a statement Friday.
House Leader Nancy Pelosi ordered the half-mast flagger on Capitol Hill. She calls Evans “a martyr for our democracy.”
President Joe Biden ordered the White House to stand still at half mast until April 6.
“Jill and I are devastated by the attack on a security post in Congress, where Officer William Evans was assassinated and another officer is fighting for his life,” said Biden, who on his behalf and the First Lady sent your condolences to Evans. family.
Congress was closed
Biden says he knows how difficult it has been for Congress and everyone working to protect him.
The car, a blue sedan, crashed into a security barrier on one of the streets leading to Congress.
Immediately after the shooting, a large number of policemen arrived at the scene and people were asked to keep their distance. A helicopter landed near the building, according to an NBC reporter.
All congressional buildings were closed after shooting was reported in the neighborhood, what was called an external security threat, and employees were told that no one was allowed to leave or enter.
There has been no danger to members of Congress, as Congress does not meet on Easter weekend.
Still on tiptoe
The episode occurred while Washington was still on tiptoe after the assault on the Congress building on January 6, while the election of Joe Biden as president had to be approved by Congress.
Five people died during the storm, including a police officer, and more than 300 people have been arrested since then, including members of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
The FBI has made clear that right-wing extremist groups and some supporters of former President Donald Trump continue to pose a security threat.
In recent weeks, some of the security measures introduced after the storm have been lifted. Among other things, the high fences surrounding the congress building were removed and the number of National Guard soldiers in the area was reduced.
