Say Anything Blog

The House of Representatives was ordered shut down Thursday following reports of a security breach at a congressional office building nearby, but police swiftly determined that a Halloween costume and plastic revolver were to blame.

Capitol police also said they had apprehended a suspect, according to an aide who said he heard the information via a pager system operated by security officials.

Start to finish, the incident lasted two hours or less - but it instantly triggered a massive response in an age of terrorism.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terence Gainer told reporters the incident resulted from "two staff members bringing in Halloween costumes....I don't think they had any ill intent," he said.