US Capitol on lockdown for second day after 'suspicious package' discovered

On Monday, the area was placed on lockdown after an armed man was shot and arrested at a visitors centre

Police sprang into action for the second day in succession (Twitter )

The US Capitol was been placed on lockdown for the second day as authorities responded to a suspicious package.

Reuters said the US Capitol Police said a suspicious package was found but did not elaborate. A bomb squad was spotted at the scene. Shortly before 10am, officials announced an "all-clear".

The lockdown came after a man was shot and wounded by police after he pointed what appeared to be a weapon at officers in the underground US Capitol Visitor Centre on Monday.

The centre had been set to return to normal operations on Tuesday. A line of tourists were waiting outside the visitor center when it reopened at 8.15am But they were quickly cleared from the area around after the unattended item was found.