White House on lockdown after police officer is shot in Capitol Hill

The White House was placed on lock down after a US Capitol police officer was injured in a shooting.

Officials said a suspect had been arrested after the police officer was wounded at the Capitol Visitor Centre complex.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. A Capitol Police officer, who asked not to be identified, said the suspect was being taken to hospital.

The Associated Press reported workers in the Capitol were told to not to leave their offices after gunshot blasts were heard nearby.

The measure has been taken as a precaution with police reassuring there was "no active threat" to the public.

Armed police have cordoned off the streets immediately around the visitor centre, which were busy with tourists visiting for spring holidays and the Cherry Blossom Festival.

The White House was also briefly placed on lock down with Secret Service officials clearing tourists away from the building but that has since been lifted.

The shooting took place with Congress on recess with politicians back in their constituencies.

Cathryn Leff a licensed therapist, tweeted that she was at the visitor's center when she heard gunshots while going through a security check point.

She posted: "That moment when it goes down . Everyone is screaming & running and you can't see where the #ShotsFired are from."

President Barack Obama is today hosting 35,000 people at the White House Easter Egg Roll, just a few hundred meters away from the visitor centre.