Hundreds of participants fled in panic as rumors of an active shooter spread through the Capital Pride Parade at Dupont Circle in Northwest Washington, D.C. Saturday night. Video (below) shows the terror-stricken revelers rushing away from the scene.

Screen images:

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The D.C. government later reported there was no active shooter.

.@CapitalPrideDC #PrideDc #DCPride – There is NO Active Shooter at Dupont Circle. There are injuries from people running from what they thought were gunshots. But there is NO ACTIVE SHOOTER at Dupont Circle. @DCPoliceDept @DC_HSEMA — Deputy Mayor Donahue (@SafeDC) June 9, 2019

However a handgun was recovered in a backpack at Dupont Circle, according to WRC-TV:

D.C. Fire and EMS confirmed that they were called to the Dupont area for reports of several injured people after people panicked when they heard accounts of a person with a gun in the area. Police have confirmed to News4 that a gun was recovered from a backpack in Dupont Circle, but said the gun was never “brandished” or threats made. D.C. Police confirmed that they are questioning one person and that the weapon recovered is being processed.

The organizer Capital Pride twice tweeted an all clear but noted cryptically, “the threat has been contained.”

The parade has ended. Be safe. The police is on site and the threat has been contained. — Capital Pride (@CapitalPrideDC) June 8, 2019

The parade has ended. The Block Party on 15th And P St. is still happening as well as City Winery. The police asks that everyone on Dupont Circle evacuates. Be safe. The police is on site and the threat has been contained. — Capital Pride (@CapitalPrideDC) June 9, 2019

Video posted by AMNA News reporter Petros Kasfikis shows the panicked crowd fleeing in terror:

#BREAKING #GayPride in #DC participants run in panic after rumors of shooting spread in the crowd pic.twitter.com/OmKlox3wfj — Petros Kasfikis (@PetrosKas) June 8, 2019

Video taken at the scene shows D.C. police with a man apparently handcuffed on the grass at Dupont Circle.

#GayPrideMonth #HappyPride Total chaos in Dupont Cirlce — pride parade is DONE. Only two arrests so far after there were apparently “multiple gun shots.” Police told me they can’t confirm if there were gun shots, multiple shooters, or anything right now. Will update when I can. pic.twitter.com/f2f98YoGzH — Marissa A. Martínez (@MarissaAlisa) June 9, 2019

More video with update:

Police arrested 1 suspect &had another woman in handcuffs. Police seized 1 gun at #DCPride. Active shooter rumors sparked mass panic, and I took cover on the ground in a small cafe with about 15 others. No shots were fired; 11 people were injured in the chaos. Pride continues.. pic.twitter.com/nrFRw18zqm — Marissa A. Martínez (@MarissaAlisa) June 9, 2019

UPDATE: Andrew Peng has posted a Twitter thread about his experience in the what-turned-out-to-be false mass shooter report panic.

Entire thread starts at this link.

Excerpts:

Rumors of a shooting swirling at DC Pride parade. I saw people running and we all stampeded into a hotel. Now hunkered in a bathroom and am safe. — Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) June 8, 2019

It was chaos for the first minute (and it almost turned into a stampede with people trying to get through the doors.) We managed to get into the women’s restroom and hunkered down. Folks were saying there were gunshots, and some began to cry, pray, and reassure each another. — Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) June 9, 2019

UPDATE: Video from the start of the panic: