Shooting in America's capital Washington DC, one dead, four injured

A firing incident took place in America's capital Washington DC on Thursday morning. Police have described it as an 'active firing' situation. One person has been confirmed dead in the incident while four others are injured.

The shooting happened near 15th and P streets in the Logan Circle area of ​​the city's central portion. This place is less than a mile from the White House.

DC Police has confirmed that five people were shot in this incident. However, the police do not have information about his condition yet.

According to police, the suspect remained inside a building on 15th Street about an hour after the shooting.

Police have sealed the areas around the incident site and have appealed to people not to go there.

DC Police said, "After this incident, a situation of siege has been created in the 1500 block of 15th Street, Northwest. The police emergency response team is present at the scene. People are appealed to stay away from this area while the incident is being dealt with."

A large number of police and emergency vehicles arrived in the Logan Circle area of ​​Washington DC after news of the shooting. Dozens of emergency vehicles were seen at the scene. Their lights were on. A helicopter was also seen flying over the area.

BBC producer Jonathan Chsapo lives in the building where the shooting took place. He was inside the building at the time of the incident. He told that he was coming down through the fire escape after the fire alarm sounded in the building.

He said, "When I was coming out, bullets started firing very close to me. I could see smoke and flashes. We all started running. That was our first reaction at that time." He said they hid behind a small brick structure near the building. After this he was immediately taken to a safe place inside a building.

The shooting occurred inside and outside the Vida Fitness Center on Logan Circle. Michael Carney, who was present in the gym, told 'Washington Sun' that he was running on the treadmill when he heard a sound like an explosion. He said that at first he thought that an exercise ball had burst. But after this he saw a person on the ground who had been shot.

According to Carney, the people present there started hiding behind pots and other things. During this time the fire alarm was sounded. He told that after coming out of the gym, he heard the sound of five to ten bullets being fired from a nearby street.

Another eyewitness said that when they were being taken out of the gym, a very loud noise was heard from the women's changing room. After this, sounds of gunshots were heard outside the gym also.

BBC's North America editor Sarah Smith said that police have sealed several blocks around the incident site. He said that a large number of emergency vehicles are present in the area. According to Sarah Smith, the police have confirmed that five people were shot.

Donovan Slack of BBC News told that he often visits the building where the shooting took place. The area is near a commercial strip of shops and restaurants. This is a rapidly developing trendy area, where a large number of youth live. It is about a mile north of the White House.