Police say at least five people shot at busy thoroughfare in Washington, DC

The shooting occurred at the intersection of 15th Street NW and P Street near Logan Circle at 8:23am local time (13:28 GMT). Police reported that the attacker had barricaded himself in the area, prompting authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for residents and workers in the vicinity.

Schools near the scene were placed on lockdown as law enforcement descended on the block. The condition of the victims was not immediately available, though at least five people were confirmed injured in the attack.

Go inside the nearest building, stay away from windows, and remain indoors until further notice.

Police Response

Reporting from the scene, Al Jazeera's John Holman described a "river of police cars" with both local and federal law enforcement donning tactical gear. "That's not just from the police force, but also from FBI and Secret Service heading towards there," he said.

Trump's Crime Focus

The attack comes as President Trump's administration has made crime in the US capital a key issue during his second term. This has included deploying National Guard troops across the city after a DOGE official claimed to have been assaulted in August 2025.

Trump declared a crime emergency and federalized control of the district's local police force. Several thousand National Guard troops remain in the district, though local officials have stated they haven't been used in local law enforcement. The White House did not immediately respond to Thursday's attack.