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Navy Yard shooting: Swat team awaits answers Navy Yard shooting: Swat team awaits answers
(34 minutes later)
Members of an armed police squad who the BBC has learned were ordered not to respond to Monday's mass shooting in Washington DC have yet to be contacted by the authorities.Members of an armed police squad who the BBC has learned were ordered not to respond to Monday's mass shooting in Washington DC have yet to be contacted by the authorities.
The Capitol Police tactical response team was told by a supervisor to leave the scene instead of aiding municipal officers, sources told the BBC.The Capitol Police tactical response team was told by a supervisor to leave the scene instead of aiding municipal officers, sources told the BBC.
Officials on a special investigative panel convened on Wednesday have yet to approach team members.Officials on a special investigative panel convened on Wednesday have yet to approach team members.
Gunman Aaron Alexis killed 12 people.Gunman Aaron Alexis killed 12 people.
"No-one's talked to these officers since this happened," a Capitol Police source close to the incident told the BBC."No-one's talked to these officers since this happened," a Capitol Police source close to the incident told the BBC.
No answers givenNo answers given
Members of the Capitol Police's highly trained Containment and Emergency Response Team (Cert) are typically debriefed "right away, at the very least the following day" following an incident, another Capitol Police source said.Members of the Capitol Police's highly trained Containment and Emergency Response Team (Cert) are typically debriefed "right away, at the very least the following day" following an incident, another Capitol Police source said.
But four days after Monday's shooting, the officers have yet to be questioned by the department or any member of a Capitol Police Board "Fact Review Team", which was convened on Wednesday to investigate the incident.But four days after Monday's shooting, the officers have yet to be questioned by the department or any member of a Capitol Police Board "Fact Review Team", which was convened on Wednesday to investigate the incident.
"[They] haven't even been given the courtesy of a debrief… They have not even been given an answer as to why the decision was made that they should not respond," a source said."[They] haven't even been given the courtesy of a debrief… They have not even been given an answer as to why the decision was made that they should not respond," a source said.
Four Cert team members wearing full tactical gear and armed with HK-416 assault weapons arrived on scene at 8:36 (12:36 GMT), soon after reports of an active gunman within the Naval Sea Systems Command surfaced at 8:20. Four Cert team members wearing full tactical gear and armed with HK-416 assault weapons arrived on scene at 08:36 (12:36 GMT), soon after reports of an active gunman within the Naval Sea Systems Command surfaced at 08:20.
According to sources, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Washington DC's main municipal force, told the Capitol Cert officers they were the only police on the site equipped with long guns and requested their help stopping the gunman.
'Unforgivable''Unforgivable'
According to sources, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Washington DC's main municipal force, told the Capitol Cert officers they were the only police on site equipped with long guns, and requested their help stopping the gunman.
When the Capitol Police team radioed their superiors, they were told by a watch commander to leave the scene, the BBC was told.When the Capitol Police team radioed their superiors, they were told by a watch commander to leave the scene, the BBC was told.
On Thursday, FBI Director James B Comey Jr told ABC News it took roughly half-an-hour for armed police to arrive and engage Alexis. All twelve victims were killed within that time. On Thursday, FBI Director James B Comey Jr told ABC News it took roughly half an hour for armed police to arrive and engage Alexis. All 12 victims were killed within that time.
Capitol Police sources suggest "lives may have been saved" if the tactical team had been allowed to intervene.Capitol Police sources suggest "lives may have been saved" if the tactical team had been allowed to intervene.
On Wednesday, Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine ordered a comprehensive review of the facts surrounding the department's response to the Navy Yard shootings.On Wednesday, Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine ordered a comprehensive review of the facts surrounding the department's response to the Navy Yard shootings.
Michael Stenger, a former assistant director of the US Secret Service, was chosen to lead the effort. The panel will report its findings by 21 October 2013, according to a statement provided Wednesday. Michael Stenger, a former assistant director of the US Secret Service, was chosen to lead the effort. The panel will report its findings by 21 October 2013, according to a statement provided on Wednesday.
On Thursday, sources questioned the efficacy of such a panel and said Capitol Police officers were relying on the results of an independent FBI investigation to uncover facts surrounding the incident.On Thursday, sources questioned the efficacy of such a panel and said Capitol Police officers were relying on the results of an independent FBI investigation to uncover facts surrounding the incident.
'Better off this way''Better off this way'
One officer close to the situation called the lack of communication with department higher-ups "unforgivable".One officer close to the situation called the lack of communication with department higher-ups "unforgivable".
Details of the gunman and the shooting continue to emerge.Details of the gunman and the shooting continue to emerge.
The former Navy reservist reportedly had a history of mental health problems and previous gun-related brushes with the law. Alexis, a former Navy reservist, reportedly had a history of mental health problems and gun-related brushes with the law.
He had sought treatment for insomnia at two Veterans Affairs hospitals in the last month, according to media reports.He had sought treatment for insomnia at two Veterans Affairs hospitals in the last month, according to media reports.
Law enforcement officials said the IT subcontractor had carved the messages, "better off this way" and "my ELF weapon", on the stock of his sawed-off Remington 870 pump-action shotgun.Law enforcement officials said the IT subcontractor had carved the messages, "better off this way" and "my ELF weapon", on the stock of his sawed-off Remington 870 pump-action shotgun.
All victims were killed in hallways or their offices, not in the building's atrium as media outlets previously reported.All victims were killed in hallways or their offices, not in the building's atrium as media outlets previously reported.
Alexis also gunned down a security guard and took his Baretta handgun, Mr Comey said.Alexis also gunned down a security guard and took his Baretta handgun, Mr Comey said.