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Several injured in shooting near US National Security Agency headquarters

Several people were injured after guards opened fire when a motorist attempted to drive through security barriers at the headquarters of the US National Security Agency (NSA), America’s top spy facility.

The motorist, who was not identified, drove a black sport utility vehicle at a gate of the secretive government body in Fort Meade, Maryland, near Washington on Wednesday local time.

Armed guards typically secure the gate and the NSA said in a statement that shots were fired during the incident.

The driver of the car, a civilian and an NSA police officer were taken to hospital, the agency said.

The vehicle had what appeared to be bullet holes in its windshield and extensive front-end damage after crashing into a concrete traffic barrier, images of the scene showed.

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/963764019268960256

“NSA police and local law enforcement are addressing an incident that took place this morning at one of NSA’s secure vehicle entry gates,” the agency said on Twitter.

“The situation is under control and there is no ongoing security of safety threat.”

FBI special agent Gordon Johnson told a media briefing the injured were all taken to hospital, but no injuries appeared to be related to the gunfire.

Mr Johnson said the gunfire was directed at the vehicle as part of NSA security protocol.

“We believe there is no indication that anything more than an isolated incident of what happened here today this morning,” he said, stressing it was not terror related.

The civilian and the police officer suffered non-life threatening injuries, but the condition of the driver, an unidentified male, is unknown.

Two people in the vehicle, both males, were taken into NSA custody.

Mr Johnson said the vehicle appeared to be a hire car.

Earlier media reports said as many as three people had been wounded at the base, which also is home of the US Cyber Command and Defence Information School.

A White House spokeswoman said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting.

– With AAP

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