Pics: Car suspected of being used in tonight’s incident in Washington DC involved in crash

An incident in Washington DC tonight, that involved the White House and Capitol Hill, has reportedly ended with this crash.

As the US deals with a shutdown of the levers of power due to a political wrangle, another incident tonight sparked a lockdown at two of the United States’ most important buildings. A female driver is alleged to have tried to gain access to the White House, by ramming her car into a security gate. This sparked an alert and the driver is thought to have turned to drive towards Capitol Hill, with police vehicles in pursuit. That chase caused a massive security operation to kick off and it seems that the chase ended with the perpatrator’s car crashed into a security guard hut. Reports of shots being fired are confirmed but whether they were from or at the car is unconfirmed. This picture shows the black car that is thought to be at the centre of the incident, and a damaged police car, at the conclusion of the chase.

It seems the #shooting started near WH with driver of this car crashed into guard shack near the Capitol @BerinSzoka pic.twitter.com/VTs0klY9ca — Rosental (@Rosental) October 3, 2013

  A police officer is alleged to have been hurt, while some reports suggest that a child has been taken unhurt from the car. The well-being of the car’s driver remains unclear at this time. There's also this incredible picture of a damaged police car from the chase.

PHOTO: Rescue personnel stand around smashed US Capitol Police car following the shooting http://t.co/vo9kXdELfn pic.twitter.com/0j3mH4fknW — Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) October 3, 2013

The situation now seems to be under control, but we will update the story as further details emerge.