The U.S. Capitol went on lockdown just before 9 a.m. Friday morning. Staffers, members of the press, and vehicles were not allowed past security checkpoints into the plaza in front of the Capitol building or inside the building. Armed police positioned themselves at security checkpoints and on the Capitol steps. On a sidewalk corner outside, a police officer strung caution tape around sidewalk posts as he told visitors they were not allowed into the area.

The lockdown at the Capitol building and the Capitol Visitors Center was lifted and normal operations resumed shortly after 9:30 a.m., a Capitol Police spokeswoman confirmed to The Daily Beast. During the incident, normal business was carrying on at the Rayburn House Office Building and Russell Senate Office Building, according to a Capitol Police officer at Russell. Staffers and members of the press were instructed to shelter in place, and nobody was allowed to enter or exit the buildings.

A Capitol Police spokeswoman said the lockdown was implemented “out of an abundance of caution” while officials searched for a “person of interest.”

—Alexa Corse