Police briefly placed the US Capitol building and visitors center on lockdown on Friday amid news reports of a person possibly carrying a firearm, but the order was swiftly lifted.
The House Sergeant at Arms, responsible for security at the US Congress, confirmed the lockdown to AFP, but did not give a reason for the move.
Capitol police had ordered staff and visitors in the Capitol building and the adjacent visitor center to immediately take cover and to stay away from external doors and windows, a Senate statement said.
House press gallery staff said the House met briefly and immediately recessed. Voting scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. was postponed, gallery staff said.
The all-clear announcement was made shortly thereafter.
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The incident came a day after attacks in Dallas, Texas that left five police dead and nine wounded — seven of them officers.
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