A Pentagon policeman was stabbed to death and several people were injured during a violent clash outside the sprawling building before fellow officers shot and killed the suspect.
The incident took place at a bus station outside the main entrance to the Pentagon, home of the US Department of Defence, which was temporarily placed on lockdown.
Authorities released few details about Tuesday's incident but confirmed the policeman's death, with the Pentagon's Force Protection Agency (PFPA) announcing it "mourns the tragic loss of a Pentagon police officer".
Several law enforcement officials told The Associated Press the suspect was Austin William Lanz, 27, of Georgia, who had run at the officer and stabbed him in the neck.
Responding officers then shot and killed Lanz, the officials said.
Investigators were trying to determine a motive for the attack and were digging into Lanz’s background, including any potential history of mental illness or any reason he might want to target the Pentagon or police officers.
Lanz had enlisted in the US Marine Corps in October 2012 but was “administratively separated” less than a month later and never earned the title Marine, the Corps said in a statement.
A volley of gunshots was fired but it was not immediately clear by whom. The gunfire resulted in “several casualties,” PFPA Chief Woodrow Kusse said.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin ordered American flags at the Pentagon to be flown at half-mast to honour the fallen officer.
Mark Warner, Democratic senator from Virginia, said his “heart goes out to the officer's family and friends, as well as the entire Pentagon police force" and Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis ordered all officers to wear formal mourning bands to honour the deceased officer.
The Pentagon Transit Centre is only steps from the Pentagon, which describes itself as the world's largest office building and boasts of more than 27 kilometres of corridors running through the five-sided facility.
Built during World War II, the Pentagon normally hosts more than 20,000 employees, both military and civilian.
Chief Kusse said that after the investigation concludes, "we'll take a look at any measures” to enhance security at the Metro station and the Pentagon complex.
Hijackers flew a plane into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, killing 189 people.
The lockdown was lifted more than an hour after the shooting, though police officers armed with rifles continued to arrive outside the Metro station where the incident occurred.
While some tourists and residents roamed the streets of neighbouring Pentagon City, a heavy police presence complete with armoured vehicles surrounding the entire perimeter of the Pentagon complex restricted public access to the building.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Mr Austin was at the White House when the incident occurred and was informed immediately by his staff, who kept him updated throughout the day.
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Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
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Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain
Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
