Two National Guard soldiers were shot on Wednesday near the White House in Washington DC.

FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters at the scene that the two victims were in a "critical condition."

What do we know so far?

Patel said the shooting occurred at around 2:15 p.m. local time (1915 GMT).

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told the press conference that the West Virginia National Guard soldiers were shot in a "targeted attack."

Police in the US capital, meanwhile, said: "The scene is secured. One suspect is in custody."

Emergency vehicles were seen responding to the area and at least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially said both the guardsmen had died, but later posted on X to say his office was "receiving conflicting reports" about their condition.

What has the US government said about the shooting?

The Pentagon has said it would send in an additional 500 troops to the US capital in response to the shooting.

Of the additional troop deployment, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington DC safe and beautiful."

The extra troops will bring the number of National Guard troops in the US capital to more than 2,500.

"Two National Guardsmen have been shot, critically wounded," Hegseth told reporters, before adding the incident was "a cowardly, dastardly act."

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation.

The Department of Homeland Security "is working with local law enforcement to gather more information," Noem posted on X.

In a post on his own social media platform, Truth Social, Trump described the suspect, who has not been publicly identified, as an "animal."

The shooting took place near the Farragut Metro station, less than two blocks from the White House.

From Washington, DW's Benjamin Alvarez described a "huge police presence" where authorities had cordoned off the scene and emergency vehicles' lights flashed while helicopter blades were heard overhead.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez, Karl Sexton