Gunfire prompts White House alert

Police have recovered an AK-47 assault rifle after closing a stretch of Constitution Avenue near the White House to investigate reports of gunfire in the area.

Sgt David Schlosser of the US Park Police said the White House did not appear to have been the focus of the incident.

Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said witnesses heard shots and saw two vehicles racing on Constitution Avenue toward 17th Street, and one of the vehicles was abandoned at 23rd and Constitution.

Witnesses saw the driver get out and run across the Roosevelt Bridge toward Arlington, Virginia, Donovan said.

He said an AK-47 assault rifle was recovered but no-one is in custody.