WASHINGTON: A gunman opened fire at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria on Wednesday, injuring five people, including the majority whip at the US House of Representatives.

“Five transported to local hospitals, including the suspect. We will not ID victims or suspect right now,” said Alexandria police chief Michael Brown while updating the media hours after the shooting.

President Donald Trump, however, identified one of the victims as House Majority Whip Steven Scalise, a Louisiana Republican.

“Rep Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Mr Trump tweeted.

Mr Scalise, 51, is the third-highest-ranking House Republican and has a round-the-clock Capitol Police detail.

Television channels in Alexandria reported that the wounded included at least one Capitol Police officer and the suspected shooter.

Police chief Brown said two of his officers engaged in “gunfire and return fire”.

Reports from the White House said President Trump cancelled some of his public engagements for Wednesday. The White House security also closed part of Lafayette Park, which faces the president’s official residence, and the adjacent Pennsylvania Avenue.

Alexandria is a town just outside Washington, close to both the White House and the Pentagon. A shootout so close to sensitive government offices alarmed the US capital, which has been on high security alert since the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attack at the Pentagon.

Security was also beefed up around congressional offices as heavily armed Capitol Police cleared the East Plaza in front of the Capitol. Tourists and visitors were redirected and only staff were being allowed.

Congressman Scalise and some other lawmakers were practising baseball at a site reserved for members of Congress when shot at. This was the final practice before Thursday night’s scheduled game between Republicans and Democrats at the Nationals Park, Washington.

Later, police identified the suspected gunman as James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois. President Trump confirmed that the 66-year old man was killed in a shootout with police. The wounded included two policemen, a congressional aide and a lobbyist.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2017