Police respond to bomb threat near US Capitol

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya and Melissa Mahtani, CNN

Updated 6:40 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021
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2:34 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021

Suspect who claimed to have a bomb has surrendered to authorities, sources say

From CNN's Whitney Wild

A pickup truck is seen parked on the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building on August 19.
A pickup truck is seen parked on the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building on August 19. Alex Brandon/AP

A suspect who said he had a bomb in a pickup truck near the US Capitol, has surrendered, two law enforcement sources tell CNN.

How the events unfolded: A man drove a black pickup truck onto the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress at 9:15 a.m. ET, claiming he had a bomb and displayed what looked like a detonator to an officer on the scene, according to US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger.

Negotiators were in communication with the suspect throughout the day to try to come to a "resolution," Manger told reporters at a press conference near the Capitol earlier today.

Manger said the suspect had been live-streaming. He added that he did not know the suspect's motives.

1:18 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021

US Capitol Police "still working" on bomb threat investigation 

From CNN's Whitney Wild, Lauren Fox and Daniella Diaz

US Capitol Police officers stand at an intersection near the Capitol on August 19.
US Capitol Police officers stand at an intersection near the Capitol on August 19. Patrick Semansky/AP

Police are "still working" on the bomb threat investigation near the US Capitol, according to a tweet.

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a news briefing earlier that officials continue to negotiate with a man who says he has a bomb in a pickup truck.

"We don't know what his motives are at this time," Manger said.

Two Library of Congress buildings — the Jefferson and the Madison — and the Cannon House Office Building were evacuated due to the suspicious vehicle, according to alerts sent to staffers viewed by CNN.

12:37 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021

White House receiving updates on bomb threat, official says

From CNN's From Jeff Zeleny

The White House is closely following events on Capitol Hill at this hour as authorities deal with a bomb threat.

“The White House is monitoring the situation and is receiving updates from law enforcement,” a senior administration official tells CNN.

It is unclear if president Biden has been briefed.

12:28 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021

Suspect claims he has a bomb and has been live-streaming, US Capitol Police chief says 

From CNN's Laura Smitherman

US Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger speaks to the press near the Capitol on August 19.
US Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger speaks to the press near the Capitol on August 19. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said negotiators continue to try to come to a “resolution” with a man who says he has a bomb in a pickup truck.

Manger said in a news conference near the Capitol that the suspect had been live-streaming and that officials have a “possible name” but added “we don’t have much information about him at this time.”

Video has been posted on Facebook by the suspect, a law enforcement official tells CNN. CNN is not yet naming the suspect. A video that lasts about a half hour shows an individual from inside a truck, holding a canister that he says is a bomb and speaking about a “revolution.” 

After the brief news conference, Manger promised to give periodic updates.

“This is really an ongoing situation,” Manger said.

12:35 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021

Negotiations with suspect continue and his motives are not known at this time, US Capitol Police chief say

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

A Metropolitan Police Department cruiser blocks a street near the Capitol and a Library of Congress on August 19.
A Metropolitan Police Department cruiser blocks a street near the Capitol and a Library of Congress on August 19. Patrick Semansky/AP

US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger provided an update on the bomb threat investigation near the US Capitol during a news conference.

"Around 9:15 am this morning, a man in black pickup truck drove onto the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress near First and Independence Southeast. We responded to a disturbance call. The driver of the truck told the responding officer on the scene that he had a bomb and what appeared, the officer said, appeared to be a detonator in the man's hand. So we immediately evacuated the nearby buildings," Manger said.

Manger noted, "We don't know what his motives are at this time."

Manger said negotiations with the suspect are ongoing and that officers are communicating with the suspect. Negotiators are "hard at work" to ensure that the situation is resolved peacefully, he said.

CNN is live on scene: 

12:11 p.m. ET, August 19, 2021

NOW: Law enforcement officials provide update on suspected explosives near US Capitol

WJLA
WJLA

Law enforcement officials are speaking to reporters about claims of an explosive device in a truck near the US Capitol and evacuation efforts in nearby buildings.

11:33 a.m. ET, August 19, 2021

These are the buildings being evacuated so far

From CNN's Whitney Wild, Lauren Fox and Daniella Diaz

US Capitol police block a street near the Capitol and Library of Congress on August 19.
US Capitol police block a street near the Capitol and Library of Congress on August 19. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

The Supreme Court has also been evacuated on the recommendation of US Capitol Police amid reports of a bomb threat, according to a spokesperson for the court, which is closed to the public because of Covid-19.

Two Library of Congress buildings — the Jefferson and the Madison — and the Cannon House Office Building were also being evacuated due to a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity, according to alerts sent to staffers viewed by CNN.

US Capitol Police on Twitter Thursday said they are responding to the incident of a "suspicious vehicle" near the Library of Congress. 

"This is an active bomb threat investigation," the USCP wrote on Twitter.

Staffers in the Madison and Jefferson buildings on Thursday were alerted by email to remain calm and relocate — and not to exit toward First Street. Those in Cannon were advised to relocate to the Longworth House Office Building using the Capitol's underground tunnels.

11:32 a.m. ET, August 19, 2021

Authorities negotiating with suspect on the scene, law enforcement sources say

From CNN's Whitney Wild and Evan Perez

Authorities on the scene are negotiating with the suspect, according to two law enforcement sources. 

The pickup truck the man drove to the scene does not have license plates, sources say.

CNN reported earlier that negotiators were being sent to talk to a man in the truck after responding to claims of suspected explosives in a vehicle near the US Capitol.

11:24 a.m. ET, August 19, 2021

FBI on the scene responding to bomb threat near the US Capitol

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

The FBI's Washington Field Office National Capital Response Squad is responding to reports of an "bomb threat" near the US Capitol.

According to the FBI Washington Field Office Twitter account, the squad is working with US Capitol police and partners about a "suspicious vehicle and bomb threat near the Library of Congress."