The headquarters of US newspaper USA Today was evacuated this afternoon amid reports of an armed man on the loose.
Police said they were "responding to reports of a man with weapon" at the Gannett building in McLean, Virginia.
A Northern Virginia police chief later said a report of a former Gannett employee with a handgun prompted the evacuation.
The building was evacuated and SWAT teams were said to be present.
A staff member wrote on Twitter: "We've been asked to evacuate.
"You never think it’s going to happen to you. this can happen to anyone at any time. we are evacuating the building. will fill you in when i learn any more. thanks for all the kind messages."
The headquarters building houses non-newspaper offices, USA Today said.
USA Today is a newspaper owned by the Gannett Company, which is distributed internationally.
It was formed in 1982 one of the widest circulations of any newspaper in the United States.
