One wounded, one in custody in shooting outside U.S. NSA headquarters

At least one person was wounded in a shooting outside the headquarters of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, Maryland, on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

In this file photo taken on January 29, 2010 the National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland, is seen from the air. [File photo: VCG]

One suspect was reportedly being held in custody in connection with the incident, while police have secured the area and there was no continuing threat near the intelligence agency about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Washington, according to local media.

"NSA police and local law enforcement are addressing an incident that took place this morning at one of NSA's security vehicle entry gates," the NSA said in a statement, adding that "the situation is under control and there's no ongoing security or safety threat."

Fort Meade officials confirmed that the injured was taken to a hospital. Earlier reports said as many as three people had been wounded.

The incident took place at around 7:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT) at the Canine Road gate.

Footage posted online showed that a black SUV with bullet holes in its windshield appeared to have crashed into a concrete barrier. A handcuffed man was on the ground, surrounded by police, NBC News reported.

It was not immediately clear if the incident was directly connected to NSA or NSA personnel.

The White House confirmed the attack, saying that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected," White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said in a statement. "We will continue to provide updates as they become available," she added.

A spokesperson for local authorities said that NSA law enforcement was in charge of the investigation into the shooting.

The FBI tweeted that it is aware of the incident and is sending personnel to the scene.

A spokesman for Anne Arundel County Public Schools said that Meade Senior High School is operating as usual.

This is not the first incident occurred at an NSA security gate. In March, 2015, two unauthorized people attempted to enter with a stolen SUV.

At that time, NSA police fired at the vehicle, killing one of them and injuring the other outside the heavily secured campus.

The NSA, a national-level intelligence agency of the Department of Defense, collects, processes and disseminates intelligence information from foreign electronic signals for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes.

It also monitors code breaking and oversees federal government computer networks to counter cyberterrorism.