Man with gun arrested near Senate office buildings, police say no ongoing threat

A man with a gun was arrested Tuesday afternoon by the U.S. Capitol Police in a park near Union Station and the Russell Senate Office Building.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat,” the agency said in a statement.

Capitol Police also responded to a suspicious package in nearby Upper Senate Park that they said were the man’s belongings. Authorities were investigating them “out of an abundance of caution.”

The public was advised to avoid the several blocks between the Senate and Union Station, an area typically busy with foot traffic from congressional staffers, residents and tourists. Road closures outside Union Station were in effect until further notice.

Early reports of the incident described to Capitol Hill reporters by Capitol Police officers suggested the man, who was not immediately identified, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle when taken into custody after being tased by an officer.