Gunshots were fired on Tuesday morning near the entrance of the Pentagon, resulting in multiple injuries. The facility, the headquarters of the United States military, was placed on lockdown.

The Arlington County Fire Department reported “multiple patients”, but it wasn’t immediately clear if they had been shot or the extent of the injuries.

The incident occurred on a Metro bus platform that is part of the Pentagon Transit Centre, the Pentagon Protection Force Protection Agency tweeted. The facility is just steps from the Pentagon building, which is in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC.

An Associated Press reporter near the building heard multiple gunshots, then a pause, then at least one additional shot.

Another AP journalist heard police yelling “shooter”.

A Pentagon announcement said the facility was on lockdown due to “police activity”.

Metro subway trains were ordered to bypass the Pentagon due to a police investigation.