00:06A major security scare has unfolded just steps away from the White House as a gunman exchanged
00:13fire with Secret Service agents near the Washington Monument. The incident has raised
00:22urgent questions about security in the heart of the U.S. Capitol and whether this was random
00:27violence or something more targeted. According to officials, the armed man began approaching
00:34from the direction of the Washington Monument, moving toward the White House before being confronted.
00:40Plainclothes officers and agents that consistently patrol the outer perimeter of the White House
00:45complex identified a suspicious individual that appeared to have a firearm. They called in support
00:53from our marked uniform Secret Service police to make contact with that individual. Upon making
00:59contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm, and fired in the direction
01:05of our agents and officers. What followed was a burst of gunfire in one of the busiest tourist zones in
01:12Washington. The Secret Service shot and wounded the suspect, who was later taken to hospital with
01:18multiple gunshot injuries. But the chaos did not end there. A young bystander was also grazed during
01:25the exchange, highlighting how close this came to becoming a larger tragedy in a crowded public space.
01:31Eyewitness visuals showed armed officers sealing off the area with yellow tape as pedestrians were pushed
01:37back and security tightened instantly. The Washington Monument and the National Mall are considered among the
01:44safest and most iconic public spaces in the United States, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors
01:50every year. That sense of normalcy was shattered in seconds. Officials have said there is no immediate
01:57indication that the gunman was directly targeting the White House or specific individuals inside the
02:03executive complex. However, agencies are not ruling out any angle. Given the extremely close distance between the
02:10Washington Monument and the White House, investigators are now examining whether this was an act of
02:15political violence or a symbolic message. This incident comes at a particularly tense time. Just over a
02:23week ago, another gunman opened fire at an event linked to the White House Correspondents Association.
02:29And earlier the same day, concerns were raised in court about a suspect accused of killing President
02:34Donald Trump and top cabinet officials. All of this is adding to a growing atmosphere of security anxiety
02:41in Washington. In response, dozens of National Guard troops were deployed alongside police as the area
02:48was locked down. Even months after earlier security surges, hundreds of Guard personnel remain stationed in
02:55the Capitol. For now, the investigation continues, with authorities trying to piece together the motive behind
03:01the attack. Was this a lone individual, or part of a broader pattern of threats emerging in the Capitol?
03:08What is clear is this. A place known for safety, calm, and national pride has once again become the
03:15center of a serious security scare. And the questions surrounding intent and timing are only getting more
03:21intense.
03:51This is an update. Download the OneIndia app now.
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