Gunman opens fire near Pentagon

Two Pentagon police officers were injured when a gunman opened fire at an underground Metro station near the entrance of Pentagon complex, America's top security building.

Chris Layman, a spokesman for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency said at about 6.40pm local time, a suspect walked up to the main entrance of the Pentagon and opened fire. (AP Image)

The gunman, who has been arrested, was also wounded when the officers fired back. His condition is critical. It was not clear what type of gun was used, but authorities said it was a handgun.

While Pentagon police did not release the names of the officers or suspect, sources identified the shooter as 36-year-old John Patrick Bedell. (AP Image)

Initially, hundreds of employees at the Pentagon were ordered to go into "Code Red". The entire building was locked down with no one allowed to enter or leave.(AP Image)

After about 45 minutes, people were allowed to leave the building through entrances other than the one closest to the Metro station. Metro trains bypassed the Pentagon station.

The injured were taken to the George Washington University Hospital's emergency room, officials said. Their condition was not immediately known.

At least three ambulances were called to the scene and all parking lots at the massive Defense Department headquarters were closed off.

In this image from video provided by WJLA-TV, a person on a stretcher is loaded into an ambulance outside the Pentagon Metro Station. (AP Photo/WJLA-TV)