Stand-off shuts down Pentagon entrance
Published: June 11, 2010
Stars and Stripes reporters Jeff Schogol and Kevin Baron are reporting that police responded Friday afternoon to a man with a suspicious package outside the Pentagon’s Metro entrance. Police with guns drawn shouted at a man to “Get down!”
Keep an eye here, and on our Pentagon reporters' Twitter feeds (@StripesBaron and @JeffSchogol) for updates as this unfolds.
1:24 PM UPDATE: The Pentagon metro entrance has been closed off. Police are stopping people from entering or exiting the building.
1:30 PM UPDATE: Pentagon employees just got an email alert warning them of a situation at the Pentagon Metro entrance to the building.
1:35 PM UPDATE: Kevin Baron is reporting that Metro trains are not stopping at the Pentagon station right now, and the station itself is closed. No official word from WMATA yet.
1:40 PM UPDATE: Police detained a man at the Pentagon Metro entrance Friday afternoon after he refused to follow orders from police, said Defense Department spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin. Jeff Schogol saw police talking to the man, who had a backpack on the ground, shortly before police ordered everyone inside the Pentagon and closed the Metro entrance. Police called an explosive ordnance disposal team to look into the backpack, Irwin said. A police officer near the Metro entrance said the bag has been cleared and the EOD team was leaving the area.
1:42 PM UPDATE: Kevin Baron reports the all clear signal just went up. The Pentagon entrance and Metro station just reopened.
3:20 PM UPDATE: Official statement from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency -- “Around 1 pm Friday afternoon Pentagon Police observed a man approaching the Metro Entrance Facility. The man had thrown down a duct taped object and was seen reaching into his backpack. The police officers ordered him to halt, but, he kept on proceeding. The police officers arrested the individual and he is currently being detained and questioned.”
Due to a switchover to a new comment system, this comment board is now closed.
