UPDATED: Police Reopen U.S. Capitol After Evacuation

(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) The U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center have reopened after authorities evacuated them earlier this afternoon, according to the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms.

The Capitol building and visitor center closed to the public after an alarm sounded, the Sergeant at Arms tweeted about 12:45 p.m. By 2 p.m., both of them were open.

The cause of the alarm is under investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police and the D.C. Fire Department, Lt. Kimberly Schneider of the U.S. Capitol Police said in an email. But authorities haven’t found any signs of smoke or a fire, she said.

Parts of 1st and East Capitol streets were closed to traffic in connection with the evacuation. But cars now can travel down the streets.

Photo via Flickr/remembertobreathe