ARLINGTON (NYTIMES) - An attack on a Pentagon police officer at the building's Metro entrance on Tuesday (Aug 3) morning left two people dead - an officer and one other person - according to a law enforcement official briefed on the matter.
On Tuesday evening, the Pentagon's press office released a statement confirming the death of a police officer during the attack, which occurred on the bus platform at the Pentagon complex in Arlington, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the officer's family," the statement said. "Additional information on the officer will be forthcoming, following full next of kin notification."
At an earlier news briefing, Pentagon's police force chief Woodrow Kusse confirmed the attack but offered few details. The force provides security at the complex, which was locked down for about 75 minutes after the shooting.
"This morning at about 10.37am, a Pentagon police officer was attacked on the Metro bus platform," Mr Kusse said. "Gunfire was exchanged, and there were several casualties."
He added: "The incident is over, the scene is secure, and most importantly, there is no continuing threat to our community."
The chief declined to offer additional details, citing the continuing investigation.
According to Mr Kusse, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into the attack.
"At this time, it would be premature to speculate on motive, and in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot provide additional details at this time," Ms Samantha Shero, an FBI spokesman, said in statement. "There is no ongoing threat to the public."
When pressed to say whether the attack may have been carried out by multiple assailants, Mr Kusse said his office was not looking for any additional suspects.
A Pentagon spokesman, Mr John Kirby, said Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was at a regularly scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House at the time of the attack and was immediately notified by his staff that it had taken place.
The secretary later travelled to the Pentagon and visited the building's operations centre upon his arrival, Mr Kirby said.
Soon after the Pentagon acknowledged the death of the officer, Mr Austin released a statement that said flags at the Pentagon would be flown at half-staff.
"This fallen officer died in the line of duty, helping protect the tens of thousands of people who work in - and who visit - the Pentagon on a daily basis," the statement said. "He and his fellow officers are members of the Pentagon family, and known to us all as professional, skilled and brave."
He added: "This tragic death today is a stark reminder of the dangers they face and the sacrifices they make. We are forever grateful for that service and the courage with which it is rendered."
The scene was secured just before noon, officials said, and a message posted on Twitter announced that the building had reopened but said the Metro entrance remained closed.
According to a public affairs employee in the secretary of defence's office, a message was read over the Pentagon's loudspeaker system around 10.45am stating that there had been "a shooting incident at the Metro bus area" and instructing employees to "stay in the building until further notice".
The announcement was followed by a similar alert sent to all computer terminals in the Pentagon about 15 minutes later.
Mr Kusse said the last major attack on the Pentagon's Metro entrance was in March 2010, when John Patrick Bedell pulled out two 9mm semi-automatic weapons and began shooting at the security checkpoint near the entrance to the Pentagon subway station, wounding two officers. Bedell was shot and killed by security officers.
