WASHINGTON D.C. – The Pentagon is “safe and secure” after an incident this morning that caused “several” casualties, said Woodrow Kusse, the chief of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.
Kusse spoke at the Pentagon Briefing Room this afternoon.
“This morning at about 10:37 a.m., a Pentagon police officer was attacked on the Metro bus platform,” the chief said. “Gunfire was exchanged, and there were several casualties. The incident is over and the scene is secure. And most importantly, there’s no continuing threat to our community.”
A man in a police uniform speaks with members of the press.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident, the chief said, supported by many different jurisdictions.
The Pentagon Metro station and the bus terminal on the south side of the building was closed. It is an active investigation and Chief Husse did not want to do anything to jeopardize the integrity of the process. “The information that I have is preliminary, so it continues to evolve,” he told reporters. ” I will be providing those details at the earliest opportunity. But right now, it’s just premature, that the situation has been resolved but the investigation must continue.”
The chief would not address what motivated the attacker, nor categorize the injuries the casualties received.
The Pentagon Metro station had been the site of incidents before, most recently in 2010.
“The last time we had a significant incident on the Metro platform was March 4th of 2010” said John Kirby.
The chief said the Pentagon Force Protection Force will examine the incident once the investigation is concluded and look for ways to do their jobs better.
A reporter asked “there are reports that a police officer was stabbed. As you mentioned, the — someone was attacked on a Metro bus — that that police officer has died from his or her wounds. Are — are those reports incorrect?”
Chief Kusse responded “Ma’am, I’m not confirming or denying those particular reports right now. The investigation is ongoing, and I do promise to get back as soon as possible with further details, but I can’t release those right now”.
Another reporter asked at the Pentagon Press briefing “can you talk about the nature of the attack? We’ve been heard — hearing shooting, and we’ve heard stabbing. Can you talk at all about that?
Chief Kusse responded “those details are still being worked. The information that we have is preliminary, and I don’t want to acknowledge or deny anything that could be erroneous. There were a number of things, and that’s why the investigation continues. I want our investigators out there on scene working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to work through those answers and be able to provide those details at the earliest opportunity”.
Reporter asked further “You said several were injured, though. So there were other people besides the officer who was attacked. That’s correct?
Chief Kusse replied” there were several injuries that resulted from the incident.
NBC reporter asked “Thank you for doing this for us, and coming to talk to us. Can you tell us, whether the officer was the intended target in this attack, or did the officer intervene, and resulted in injuries. And then secondly, the Pentagon Metro exit has repeatedly been the site of attacks or, you know, intended attacks on the building. Does this latest incident give you pause and think that maybe addition force protection measures might be necessary at this entrance?
Chief Kusse “That’s a good question, ma’am. Again, I have no further information with regard to motivation or the series of events that — that occurred. Those are being put together as — as we speak. The Pentagon Metro Station is probably one of the busiest in the transportation system. It is a hub for commuters, as well as building occupants. There are a number of measures that we have in place out there. Every time an incident occurs, whether it’s here or anywhere else across the nation or in the world, we do after-actions on those. We examine them. We look for things that we can do to improve. But right now, again, it’s still pending. We will certainly, as this investigation concludes, take another look at any measures. Our mission is — is to protect not just the building, but the community that we serve that transits through that station”.
Reporter added question “So you think it’s possible that there’ll be additional security measures that make it more difficult for anything like this to happen at that station?”
Chief Kusse replied “Ma’am, we would review the results of the investigation, and we would — we would give that due consideration. I wouldn’t say right now whether there were adequate or insufficient. We’re going to take a hard look at every — every incident, whether it’s here or anywhere else in the nation.”
