While some federal agencies in Washington have reportedly stepped up security measures in the wake of this morning’s apparent subway and bus explosions in London, Capitol Police officials say that Capitol Hill remains on the heightened alert status that was put in place after the first round of subway and bus bombings in London earlier this month.

Following the July 7 attacks in London, Capitol Police tightened security on the Hill by stepping up sweeps for explosive devices and giving extra attention to anyone carrying a large item, such as a backpack, on the Capitol grounds. Officials also added supplementary patrol units to increase a police presence on the Hill and tightened the screening of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

“We are still in that elevated state of security, there’s been nothing new resulting from this morning’s incident,” said Officer Michael Lauer, a department spokesman.

Lauer said he did not know if this morning’s incidents pushed back plans to return security measures to pre-July 7 levels and that any decision to scale back security on the Hill would have to made by the Capitol Police Board.

— John McArdle