Counterterrorism Blog

Suspicious Package Destroyed Near U.S. Capitol - No Other Explosion (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Last update at 1:17pm ET: Suspicious package in car (rented 2005 Impala) destroyed with no other explosion after perceived threat closes immediate area west of U.S. Capitol (1st & Constitution Avenue, NW) - Capitol Police say that two men approached them and made suspicious statements to effect that they had explosives in car, leading to law enforcement action - two men being questioned - several buildings nearby (including mine) were evacuated. Wide perimeter near Senate side of Capitol closed, but no Congressional offices evacuated. NBC News reports that one of the men flew from Mexico and had acted suspiciously on the flight - and that driver has history of mental problems, leading law enforcement to "all but dismiss this as serious threat."