WASHINGTON, Oct 3: Police lifted the lockdown of US Capitol late Thursday afternoon after a female suspect was shot and killed.

The lockdown stayed in place for less than an hour — between 2.20pm and 3pm — but it alarmed the entire city as only two weeks ago a mentally disturbed man had killed 13 people in a nearby navy yard.

CBS News reported the incident began at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue after a car apparently tried to ram the northeast gate at the White House. The driver then fled towards Capitol.

Later, a congressman, Grace Meng, told reporters that the female driver of the vehicle was shot and killed by a Secret Service agent.

The White House too was briefly placed on lockdown and President Barack Obama was briefed on the situation.

The firing forced the House of Representatives to go on a recess while the Senate went into a quorum call — dispensing momentarily with its official business.According to earlier report, one police officer was injured in the incident. Capitol Police asked people to “shelter in place” and “close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows”.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told a CNN reporter of “one injury”.

Congressman Gerry Connolly said he was told by the sergeant-at-arms that a suspect has been apprehended.

Mr Connolly said he was standing on a balcony of the US Capitol with Congressman Matt Cartwright when they heard two bursts of gunfire coming from the direction of the Rayburn Office Building.

“It was almost like two very rapid fire bursts, very loud,” he said. “They were clearly coming from the direction. That’s when we saw people fleeing, and we realised this was no fireworks. It sounds liked the first volley of a 21-gun salute.”

Mr Connolly said he could see people fleeing away from the Rayburn building and police officers running towards it before he was shepherded back into the building.

According to CBS News, an announcement over the Capitol public address system said: “Gunfire heard on Capitol Hill. If you are in an office building, shelter in place.”

The news channel reported that that a section of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House had also been closed off after the incident.

Another official statement said FBI agents were also sent to the scene.