Washington Navy Yard Shooting: Several Dead

Police are hunting two gunmen dressed in military uniform after an attack on a US naval base, which left at least six people dead.

Police say three men launched an attack on the US Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters at the naval yard in Washington, killing a number of people and injuring others.

One of the gunmen has been shot dead but police are now hunting another two, who are said to be dressed in military uniforms.

The men launched their attack on one of the biggest naval command buildings in the US in the early morning rush as people started work.

Navy officials say at least six people have been killed in the attack, a number of others are being treated for gunshot injuries in local hospitals.

A helicopter lifts a person from the roof at the navy yard

Washington DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that one officer had been hit in a shoot-out with the gunmen and one of the gunmen had been killed.

She said: "The big concern for us at the moment is that we potentially have two other shooters."

Police Chief Lanier said one of the men was white and dressed in a khaki, tan navy-style uniform with a beret, while the second man was black, aged around 50 and wearing olive drab uniform.

However, she said there was no indication that the men were actually military personnel.

She said that there had been multiple victims of the shootings but would not confirm an exact number.

The President is being regularly briefed on the rapidly unfolding situation.

Witnesses described a gunman opening fire from the fourth floor, aiming down on people in the first-floor cafeteria. Others said a gunman fired at them in a third-floor hallway.

Patricia Ward, who works at the command centre, and witnessed the attack said: "It just happened so fast."

She said that a gunman had been shooting into the atrium and added: "but I didn't pay any attention to that, I just kept on running."

Responding to questions about the level of security at the base Ms Ward said: "It's not secure enough for me."

SWAT teams on the roof at Navy Sea Systems Command

She said that staff had to have a card to get on to the complex and that without one it would be difficult to pass security.

Todd Brundidge, an executive assistant with Navy Sea Systems Command, said he and other co-workers encountered a gunman in a hallway of their building on the third floor. 

"He just turned and started firing," he said.

Terrie Durham, an executive assistant, said she also saw the gunman firing toward her and Mr Brundridge.

Teams on the ground at America's oldest navy yard

"He aimed high and missed," she said. "He said nothing. As soon as I realised he was shooting, we just said, 'Get out of the building.'"

Officials at MedStar Washington Hospital Center said two shooting victims had been brought there.

Sky News US Correspondent Greg Milam said: "If it is confirmed there is more than one gunman it suggests a level of coordination, of planing, maybe something more than just domestic issues, maybe you start then to question whether there is a terrorist motivation."

Tim Jones, a journalist with Sky News radio, said that when he visited the navy yard in April this year, he had found there were very few security checks to get on  to the base.

He said: "I showed my passport at the security gate, and got waved through. No scanners, no pat-downs, nothing.

I was only there to visit the museum, but got totally lost on the site, and was never challenged. My impression is there's a very significant civilian workforce on this base."

A helicopter in the skies above the naval base

One of the gunmen, has been described as black, wearing dark clothing and around 5ft 10ins. They were said to have been carrying AR-15 rifles.

The weapon is the country's best selling rifle and the same weapon used in the both the Aurora cinema shooting where 12 were killed and the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut last year, where gunman Adam Lanza killed 20 children.

A Navy statement said: "An active shooter was reported inside the ... building on the Washington Navy Yard at 8:20 am Eastern Time.

"Emergency personnel remain on scene and a 'shelter in place' order has been issued for Navy Yard personnel."

Secretary of the navy Ray Mabus said: "I'm deeply shocked and saddened by the shooting this morning at the Navy Yard.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I have complete confidence in our first responders, and I continue to be completely focused on this very difficult situation."

Naval Sea Systems Command is the largest of the Navy's five system commands and accounts for a quarter of the Navy's entire budget.

It builds, buys and maintains the Navy's ships and submarines and their combat systems.

:: US Navy Base Shooting: Live Updates

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