Washington (AFP) - A man died Sunday morning near the Capitol after crashing his car into a barricade and shooting in the air and then at himself, police said.

The Capitol Police statement (the building that houses the House of Representatives and Senate) did not clarify the identity of the man or indicate his motives.

Congress is currently in recess, and police said, "It does not appear that the man was targeting any members of Congress."

The incident comes in the midst of escalating tension and intense debate on social media, after a number of boxes of classified government documents were seized in the home of former President Donald Trump in Florida.

The statement stated that the man rammed his car into a barrier erected at "East Capitol Street" and "Second Street" shortly after 4 am (8:00 GMT).

The statement continued, "The car started to catch fire when the man got out of it," and added, "Then the man fired several shots in the air."

When the policemen returned fire and approached the man, "he shot himself."

Except for the driver, no one was hurt.
Washington city police opened an investigation into the man and his record.