KEY POINTS:
Two Secret Service officers were injured after a gun held by another Secret Service officer accidentally fired inside the White House gate, according to a spokesman, Darrin Blackford.
Their injuries are non-life threatening, the spokesman said.
One officer suffered a shrapnel wound to the face, and the other was wounded in the leg.
They were taken to George Washington Hospital.
At the time, President George W Bush was on a trip to Blacksburg, Virginia, to attend a ceremony at Virginia Tech university following yesterday's shooting rampage.
"It appears that at approximately 2.10pm there was an accidental discharge of a service issued weapon, which occurred inside the Southwest Gate at a security post near the White House," Blackford said.
Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, Lafayette Park across the street from the White House and other nearby walkways were all shut down to pedestrian traffic due to the incident.
Many police vehicles were in the area.
- REUTERS
