WASHINGTON: A female US soldier shot and injured herself at a US Army command post in Virginia on Monday, prompting a temporary lockdown of the base, officials said.

The soldier turned the gun on herself at the Combined Arms Support Command Headquarters at Fort Lee, about 200 kilometres south of the US capital in Washington, the army said in a statement.

“Early reports indicate the soldier turned the weapon on herself and fired one shot, injuring herself,” the statement said.

After a series of deadly shooting rampages at military bases, US authorities have taken extra security precautions and issue lockdown alerts at the first sign of potential danger.

The shooting incident at Fort Lee took place at about 9am and the “all clear” was issued about an hour later, officials said.

The injured soldier was taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Centre and officials issued no details on her condition. The incident was under criminal investigation and the circumstances behind the shooting remained unclear.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2014