As it happened: Police officer killed in attack on US Capitol

President Joe Biden has released a statement about today's attack, saying he and First Lady Jill Biden were "heartbroken to learn of the violent attack".

He offered his "heartfelt condolences to Officer Evans’ family, and everyone grieving his loss".

He added that he had ordered flags at the White House to lowered to half mast.

Acknowledging that it had been "a difficult time" for those working in and around the Capitol, he expressed "the nation’s gratitude" to the Capitol police force and first responders.

CNN producer Kristin Wilson has delivered a tribute to fallen officer Billy Evans.

She said, as somebody who frequently works at the Capitol, she often interacted with Evans and other members of the US Capitol Police.

She described the 18-year veteran as "the kindest person".

She also mentioned that the police force seems "wounded and haunted" by the events of 6 January, when a violent pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol complex.

Evans was only the fourth Capitol police officer to be killed in the line of duty.

All four leaders of the US Congress have released statements in response to today's attack at the Capitol.

Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi put out a lengthy statement that begins: "America's heart has been broken."

She called fallen officer Billy Evans "a martyr for our democracy".

Democratic Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said he was "heartbroken for the officer killed" and indebted to the Capitol police force.

Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell wrote that he was "praying" for those attacked.

House minority leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted: "The whole country is praying for them [the two injured officers] right now."

• One US Capitol Police officer has been killed and another injured after a suspect “rammed a vehicle” into officers at the Capitol in Washington. The suspect then exited the vehicle with a knife and lunged towards officers
• Officers opened fire on the suspect, who was shot and died later in hospital
• Capitol Police have released the name of the officer killed. Officer William ‘Billy’ Evans was a member of the Capitol Police force for 18 years
• According to CBS News, the suspect is 25-year-old Noah R Greene. Officers say that no prior information about him has been found on police databases
• The incident took place shortly after 13:00 local time. Congress is currently on recess so very few lawmakers were in the Capitol building at the time

It's now around 16:40 local time in Washington DC, and dozens of police and National Guard troops are out patrolling the streets and investigating the scene of the attack.

In the aftermath of the 6 January riot, hundreds of National Guard troops were deployed to the US Capitol. There are estimated to be around 2,300 still there, and the plan had been to bring that number down in the next few weeks. It's unclear how today's attack will change security plans for the Capitol building and the capital city.

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The US Capitol Police has released the name of the officer killed in today's attack.

A statement from acting police chief Yogananda Pittman reads: “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Officer William 'Billy' Evans this afternoon from injuries he sustained following an attack at the North Barricade by a lone assailant."

It goes on to say the officer was a member of the Capitol police force for 18 years.

"Please keep Officer Evans and his family in your thoughts and prayers," the statement says.

Officers on the streets around DC assembled an impromptu funeral procession for the officer who died in today's attack.

Hunter Walker, a reporter for Yahoo, captured the moment on camera when a Secret Service officer saluted the motorcade.

Here's the latest from the scene. Footage shows an increased security presence around the Capitol building, where the US Congress sits, and a number of police cars surrounding the area.

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Today's attack comes less than three months after the 6 January riots in which a Capitol Police officer was killed.

Brian Sicknick, 42, was injured while “physically engaging with protesters” and later died in hospital.

Sicknick lay in honour in the Capitol Rotunda in January - a rare distinction reserved for those who are not government or military officials.

Earlier this month, two men were charged with using bear spray on Sicknick, although it is not clear if he died from the bear spray.

Sicknick "wanted to be a police officer his entire life", his brother, Ken, said in a statement.

"Brian is a hero and that is what we would like people to remember," he added.

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The blue sedan that was rammed into the Capitol Hill checkpoint is still on scene.

Officers are combing through the crash site, looking for evidence.

Surrounding them are thousands of armed police officers and National Guard troops.

A large perimeter has been established around the crime scene, making it harder for journalists to get a better view of the car.

Capitol Police have shared updated information surrounding the officer’s death.

The investigation continues.

Attacks on the seat of US government are a rarity, but not without precedent.

Before the 6 January riot this year, a 2013 incident ended with a fatal car chase.

A former dental hygienist from the state of Connecticut was shot after trying to breach the White House, leading officers on a high-speed chase to the Capitol through the heart of downtown Washington DC.

Miriam Carey was said to have been suffering mental illness, and was under the belief President Barack Obama had been stalking her.

Her young child was in the backseat when an officer shot her as she attempted to drive at police.

The shocking footage of the deadly car chase was caught on video by an Arabic- language news channel that happened to be filming on Capitol Hill at the time.

Read more

US police launch inquiry after deadly car chase

The security lockdown has lifted, but you wouldn't have guessed it based on the number of camouflaged National Guard troops that continue to fan out across Capitol Hill.

According to a statement, there are still around 2,300 National Guard troops on the Capitol who have remained there since the aftermath of the 6 January attack.

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Much of the reaction online has been sympathy and condolences for the US Capitol Police department, which lost an officer in today's attack.

The 6 January attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob ended in the death of five people, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

In the aftermath of the riot, officers shared stories of the "medieval battles" they had endured as they clashed for hours in the hallways of power.

"We were battling, you know, tooth and nail for our lives," said one Washington DC police officer on Capitol Hill that day.

Read more:

Capitol riot: Police describe a 'medieval battle'

Police have yet to identify the suspect in today's driving attack.

According to CBS News, the BBC's broadcast partner in the US, the suspect is male, a US citizen and is not previously known to police or on any sort of crime or terror watch list.

He "appears" to be the only participant in today's attack, the network reports.

The lockdown has ended, but guards have been standing on high alert around the US Capitol.

Journalists report that the lockdown has concluded.

Several senators and representatives, who are not on the Hill today, have begun to express their condolences on Twitter.

Marco Rubio of Florida called the attack "tragic and cowardly".

“The brave men and women of the United States Capitol Police put their lives on the line every day to protect the heart of our democracy," said Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. "We are hoping and praying for the recovery of those injured in the line of duty."

President Biden is at Camp David and has been made aware of the situation, the White House press secretary said.

The attack at the US Capitol today took the life of one member of the US Capitol Police.

The officer will not be identified until next of kin is informed.

This is the second Capitol police officer to die on duty this year. Officer Brian Sicknick was beaten with flagpoles and other objects by pro-Trump rioters at the Capitol on 6 January.

The death today is also only the fourth time a Capitol officer has died defending the Hill. Previously, two were killed in 1998 in an isolated incident.