An incident at the Pentagon City mall shocked shoppers as they heard loud noises of what seems to be a robbery.
Various reports of something going on at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia, were made on Twitter on Sunday afternoon. The loud noises reported are being investigated by Arlington County police according to WJLA .
The outlet reports that police were initially responding to shots fired, but now it appears to be a robbery instead, according to the Arlington County Police Department. Three suspects went into a store with hammers breaking a glass display case. A fire extinguisher was also reportedly used before the trio fled on foot.
Reports of a shooting first surfaced on X, formally known as Twitter, as people inside the mall heard loud noises. "Someone outside my window just yelled there has been a shooting here at Pentagon City Mall," one person wrote on the site.
They added: "I witnessed the aftermath, people running and screaming, into the road, breaking through the barriers to leave the parking lot. Huge cop presence arriving now."
"Was in Pentagon City mall. After multiple loud bangs, turned around to see men in ski masks spraying fire extinguishers into shops," a second person added.
One social media user shared a photo of two police officers with machine guns reportedly outside the parking lot near the mall's Nordstrom.
"Definitely a smash and grab attempt with sledge hammers and fire extinguishers," another social media user reported with photos allegedly from inside the mall showing what appears to be a jewelry store with the storefront glass smashed and a hammer discarded.
The incident was first reported to be in the 1100 block of South Fern Street. No injuries have been reported and it's unclear at the moment what was taken from stores.
Some of those who were at the mall reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was at the mall during that time. One X user said they heard an Arlington Police radio say: "They are going to be evacuating a…Secretary of State, I believe, from Macy's currently. There will be five armed personnel walking toward Macy's.”
Police are still investigating what happened. Anyone with information is asked to call Arlington County Police Department's tip line at 703-228-4180 or email them at ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us.
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