Walter Reed incident: Police say ‘no indication’ of active shooter at Maryland military hospital

Police received emergency calls about gunshots

Police in Maryland there is "no indication" of an active shooter situation in the area near Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, despite emergency calls regarding hearing gunshots.

The hospital is located just outside of Washington, DC in Bethesda, Maryland but Naval Support Activity Bethesda tweeted there was no imminent danger to patients and staff.

US Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland tweeted he is at the centre but "currently safe in a conference room w/ approx 40 others."

Swat teams were seen swarming the building complex but NSAB public affairs officer Jeremy Brooks told the Associated Press "right now there is no indication that there is any active shooter, but we won't know 100 percent until the buildings have been successfully cleared."

Mr Ruppersberger's staff appears to have taken over his Twitter account and said the congressman "does not believe this to be a drill". However the Pentagon later confirmed it was, in fact, a drill to test security response.

The south gate to Walter Reed had been closed as police continue to investigate the situation.

Police have not reported finding any victims despite several 911 calls indicating people had heard gunshots in the vicinity. The main road leading to the centre has also been cleared of traffic out of precaution.

Police have reportedly cleared the basement of Building 19 in the complex, but did not find a shooter.

The whole building had been cleared out of precaution as service members recover from injuries and get medical treatment.

No other evacuations have been reported.