The campus of American University in northwestern Washington, DC was placed on lockdown for several hours due to reports of an “armed intruder” nearby. Students and staff were told to lock doors and shelter in place.
“Lock doors & stay away from windows - If outside, leave campus immediately,” AU police announced on Twitter at 1:26 pm local time on Wednesday (1826 GMT). The lockdown was lifted at 4:38 pm local time.
The measure appears to have been precautionary, as there were no reports of an active shooter. One local reporters said the DC Metro Police Department (MPD) received a call about a “person with a gun on their hip” at the intersection of Nebraska and New Mexico avenues, right next to the main AU campus.
AU police and MPD conducted building-to-building searches of the campus and satellite facilities.
The US capital has one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, banning civilians from openly carrying guns.
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