berlin. security alert in washington dc -- the u.s. capitol lock down after a car rims a barricade, killing a police officer and entering another. a suspect armed with a knife has been shot dead. al coming up, taiwan's deadliest train disaster in decades per the pack train derailed inside a tunnel after colliding with the truck. at least 51 people have been killed, dozens injured.

at hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations over iran's nuclear program. world powers of scheduled talks for next week, three years after donald trump pulled out of an international agreement. plus, a historic andover of power in niche air -- in niger, but an alleged coup attempt raises questions about the stability of the new government. ♪ >> i'm clare richardson. welcome to the show. breaking news in washington dc. the u.s. capitol is again the scene of a major security incident. police say a car and a barricade outside the capitol, killing one officer endangering another. the area was put on alert after former support -- supporters of former president donald trump rioted january 6.

officials have begun scaling back barriers, citing a reduced security threat. u.s. capitol police gave this press conference with details of what happened. >> at approximately 1:02 hours this afternoon, a suspect entered what we refer to as the north barricade of the capitol. the suspect rammed his car into two of our officers, and then hit the north barricade barrier. at such time, the suspect exited the vehicle with a knife in hand. our officers then engaged that suspect. he did not respond to verbal commands. the suspect did start lunging toward u.s. capitol police officers, at which time u.s. capitol police fired upon the suspect. at this time, the suspect as

pronounced deceased. two u.s. capitol police officers were transported to two different hospitals. and it is with a very, very heavy heart that i announce, one of our officers has succumbed to his injuries. >> the u.s. capitol police, giving a statement there. we crossed our washington bureau chief, what can you tell us about this incident? >> i was there when this took place. it was obvious, the shock this came to the police. you know, they are still morning the loss of colleagues in the storming of this capital -- storming on the capitol is not

just the police -- storming of the capitol. it is not just the police that are in shock, washington is in shock, it is a beautiful day, the start of the easter weekend. you can feel it. i rode my bike up the hill to report for deutsche weiland you can see that washington is in shock. -- deutsche welle, and you can see that washington is in shock. >> can you give us a sense how close the suspect got to the capitol building, for someone who doesn't know washington? >> it was only a couple of hundred yards before the capitol building that this barrier went up where the car got stopped. it is honestly surprising how close vehicles can already get.

it is not so far away. so this will be a question we will probably hear a lot the next few days, why ist that a car can come so close to the capitol building, after what we have seen on january 6? let's talk a little bit about washington anyhow. i am sure many in our international audience as visited the city, or seen movies or tv shows about washington. it has been the beauty of the capitol of the united states that you could really come close to the government building. it was only a fence guarding the white house until a couple of months ago. you could go there and take pictures. the same is true here at the capitol building, there was no fence whatsoever. you could actually talk to high-end politicians walking in

and out, taking a lunch break in the sun. and this has dramatically changed after january 6. and that is what many washington -- why many washington residents really want to defense to come down, because they wanted to go back to their normal kind of relaxed life. and this happen soon again, what we are experiencing right now. clare: that is the promise of american democracy, that anyone can walk up to their lawmakers in the halls of congress and take their interest and pleas to the nation's lawmakers. and that is, as you say come over the questions that will be asked, how could something like this happen after the tightening of security measures following the storming of the capitol by armed insurrectionists in january? was the response at least faster, relatively speaking? >> much so. there are still federal agents based in washington, more than 2000 after january 6, and after

the inauguration of joe biden and kamala harris, there was more than 15,000. that has been reduced. but as i am standing here, i see federal agents passing by. but the response was very, very fast here because, i mean, the capitol police has learned the lessons from january 6. but still, the question that is asked and will be asked is, how is this possible that a civilian car can drive up so closely to the capitol? clare: is there any indication that this is an ongoing threatened that there may be other suspects involved? >> we don't really know that yet. we hear that is what the nbc outlet, nbc news outlet is reporting, that it is suspected

to be a 25 euros man from indiana. we don't know if that is true, but we heard there is an ongoing threat. that is what metro police said about half an hour ago. we hear sirens in the background. all that is really an ongoing story, so we don't know yet. clare: we will be following the story throughout the night. our washington bureau chief, thank you very much for your reporting. we are going to turn attention to taiwan now, where at least 51 people have been killed in a train crash. the crowded train appears to have come off the rails inside a tunnel after hitting a truck. dozens more were injured in the incident in eastern taiwan. many travelers were on the move during the holiday weekend, in which people traditionally tend to family graves. the government ordered an independent investigation after the initial rescue operation is complete. reporter: shuffling to safety one carriage roof at a time,

these passengers are being rescued from taiwan's deadliest railway disaster in decades. all of a sudden, i just fell from my seat to the ground. i hit my head and saw it was bleeding. the train, crowded with more than 400 people, derailed in a tunnel after slamming into a truck that rolled onto the tracks from a nearby construction site. the impact ripped some carriages apart and crumpled others. rescuers worked for hours to reach trapped passengers, many of foam were rushed to hospital -- many of whom were rushed to hospital. many people were trapped under train seats from the collision, and others were on the top of the seats, so those on the bottom were crushed and lost consciousness. the accident comes at the start of a busy come a busy come along holiday weekend, when taiwan's

roads and railways are usually packed. investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. clare: and there are new hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations after iran's nuclear program. washington has indicated it is willing to discuss returning to a nuclear deal with gerard via -- with tehran. an international agreement reached in 2015 aimed to limit iranian nuclear activity. but the trump administration unilaterally pulled out of the deal three years ago. uranium has resumed enriching uranium to well above the deal's limit. for more on this, i am joined by former u.s. career diplomat frank wisner in new york. he was ambassador to india, egypt and the philippines and is currently an analyst at the iran project, a think tank that supports the iran nuclear deal. thank you for joining us on dw. how optimistic are you that

these indications will point the way to reviving the nuclear deal? >> the news today is good news. but i don't discount how complex the negotiation will be, and how long it wi take. i believe it does, however, provide an opportunity for the sides to come together and achieve a goal set up some weeks ago for the united states to return to the jcpoa on a compliance-four-compance basis. --ompliance-for-compliance basis. that is, the u.s. returns to the deal when trump took it out of it -- took us out of it, and the iranians rollback efforts to enhance nuclear capability. and there is at least a road ahead. but the choreography of the

steps will become located. clare: i do want to ask you about that, because one of the challenges is that both the u.s. and iran want the other side to make the first move in terms of comiance. what has changed here to make stocks possible? >> -- makes talks possible? >> there is a formula that permits both sides to reach out to each other using the instrumentality of the joint commission and the good offices of the europeans to make sure good ideas are transmitted back and forth until there is a negotiated understanding. that is the way i believe it is going to work, but the details are going to have to come out, and i don't have them. clare: you are a former u.s. ambassador, you worked in numerous positions in the state department, why do you think iran ruled out face-to-face bilateral discussions? >> iran made it quite clear

going back to the trum administration that they would not return to direct negotiation with the united states, with a pistol of sanctions pointed at their head. and the fact that the administrations have changed and the sanctions are still in place, the iranians would argue, leaves them just as bad off today. there are a number of other changes and i am certain that they would anowledge them, but what they need to have in hand before face-to-face negotiations can begin is some confidence that the steps they take to return to compliance will be matched steps the united states will take return to compliance. and that is what we are looking for, compliance for compliance. clare: as the biden administration to date signal to iran it would be a good-faith

partner in these negotiations? >> i am not privy to direct communications. and i don't think there have been any directly between the united states and iran. but do the iranian understand that if they didn't accept the fa that the united states was epared t come to the tablin good faith, there wouldn't be a meeting coming up in vienna, so i like to think that at least the point is clear, however it was communicated. clare: thank you, ambassador frank wisner. we areciate you coming on dw news. >> it is a pleasure. thanks very much. clare: let's look at other stories making headlines around the world -- protesters in myanmar have been marching to remember the more than 500 people killed by security forces since the military seized power in a coup in february. the junta has also shut down wireless services. clashes have erected in the disputed region of kashmir.

villagers threw stones at security forces, and they responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. delhi says in earlier indian operation killed three militants. many locals support independence or pakistani rule over kashmir. algeria's pro-democracy movement has gathered for its 111th friday protest. tens of thousands marched for free elections in the capital of algiers. the movement began two years ago enforced the long-serving president to quit. demonstrators say subsequent elections were rigged by the military. niger has to warning a new president. the ceremony marks the first peaceful transition of power in decades, but mohammed but zoom is still facing decades. his ministration will have to deal with islamic extremism. the u.n. ranks niger as the poorest nation.

reporter:dw the president can breathe easy now, he has been inaugurated as the first democratically-elected president since the country's independence from france in 1960. ended almost didn't happen. two days before the ceremony was to take place, some of the country's military allegedly tried to logic yo -- launch a coup, according to the government. it is not clear how it was stopped. 61-year-old was elected in a february runoff that was contested by his main opponent, a former president toppled by a military coup in 1996. he claimed the latest vote was marred by fraud, but a top court confirmed the president's victory. perhaps the biggest problem are terrorist to grab -- terrorist attacks by groups like boko haram and other organizations linkedo the islamic state and al qaeda. last month, 137 people were killed in one of the worst

attacked by -- one of the worst attacks by suspense kid -- by suspected islamic militants. for a long time, attacks were only on security forces, but then attacks on village chiefs and civilians in an indiscriminate manner. since last january, they have been carrying out massacres of innocent civilians on a large scale, thereby committing sometimes real war crimes. terrorism is a real misfortune for our country -- >> terrorism is a real misfortune for our country. reporter: the president will also have to tackle poverty that the u.n. ranks as the worst in the world. he will also have to improve the education system so that young people stay in school longer. clare: now for around up on developments in the coronavirus

pandemic u.s. is not vaccinated more than 100 million people. and nearly a third of americans have received their first shot. that is according to new figures from the center for disease control. italy has closed its doors from the month of april. infection numbers are rising tens of thousands -- tens of care beds are at 95% capacity. the netherlands is pausing vaccination of people younger than 60 years old with the astrazeneca vaccine. this week, german authorities also halted use of the shot, citing rare cases of blood clotting. christians around the world are marking easter holy week. for the second year, the pandemic means transitions are mute -- cebrations are muted. in rome, worshipers can take part in small ceremonies. about a year on from the first lockdown, many talked about the

disruption to their lives. reporter: it is a quiet holy week here at st. peter's square. normally, rome is filled with tourists and pilgrims. the second straight year, italy and the vatican are under strict lockdown over easter to contain a surge of covid-19 infections. >> it is the second easter i have to spend with my little family, just my husband and daughter, because i cannot reach my parents and brothers and nephews, which live in a different region. so this is good to be the same for many families. and this is a bit sad, but also, we are tired of this situation. we know it needs to be like this, but it is sad. >> it is better than lester, because last -- then last year, because last year, nothing was possible. nobody was permitted to leave their houses. at this year, we are in a

situation where people can come to church, participate in the ceremonies. reporter: while some church events will take place, the vatican scaled down easter, the faithful encouraged to follow services and the pope's message on tv, radio or online. the public is advised to stay home and police have stepped up patrols to and sure don't gather. but italy continues to see hundreds of deaths that every day. early 110,000 people have died across the coury due to covid 19. with this new wave, there is one difference -- the vaccination rollout. but it has been slow. the vatican has joined the vaccination drive and is hoping to inoculate more than 1000 vulnerable people over easter. a new kind of ceremony for this holy week. clare: our reporter seema goop upta sent us this report.

seema: italy was the first country to be hit by the full force of the pandemic and has lost more than 109,000 lives due to covid 19. it continues to see daily death tolls in the hundreds. people here are frustrated to find themselves in the same situation yet again. the one difference is the vaccine, but the rollout has been too slow. the hope is that things will pick up in the days and weeks to come, as the authorities have said so. clare: at easter, the jerusalem all-city is usually packed with visitors from around the world. this year, churches are mostly welcoming local children -- local christians who at least can take part in some services. reporter: every step in the preparation of these cooki for easter is well rehearsed. family and friends are being hosted at this home in east jerusalem, after a veer -- after

a year of restriction, it feels more special. everyone here is vaccinated. it makes the tradition of a suite made of semolina and walnuts. >> the family is happy to be together for this occasion. this is a tradition i cherish, because it is passed from generation to generation. this year, because of the vaccine and everything, we managed to be together. last year, unfortunately, we couldn't. we were just maybe five, we lost contact with each other. so we were able to do it. reporter: still, everyone is cautious. the method of shaping the suites like the thorny crown jesus wore his handed down from generation to generation. jerusalem's old city is the center of easter celebrations

for palestinian christians and visitors from all over the world, usually. the church of the holy sepulch re is believed to be the site of jesus's crucifixion. last year, it was closed several times this year, it is mainly quiet, local christians visiting because foreign tourists are not allowed back. >> for us last year, it was difficult because we couldn't celebrate in a nice way. now, a sense of looking forward to practice our rituals and go back to holy places. >> people are really looking forward to go out. during the year, we had to stay-at-home. how we wanted to celebrate together. we really missed it during corona. reporter: last easter, services were streamed online. but now those who have been vaccinated can attend in person again. >> this year, people can

participate in person in the mass. this is an even more beautiful challenge because we can celebrate their participation. we want to see people face-to-face. we want to look into their eyes because we want them to live this experience together. reporter: back in this house, the first batch of cookies is ready. it is a welcome return to beloved easter traditions and a celebration of a gradual return to normal life. clare: sports news now, surprised by major league baseball in the u.s., the league announced it is moving the very lucrative all-star game out of atlanta. that is a response to georgia's new voting law that markedly restricts voting access thursday was opening day for baseball's top league, welcoming fans back to what were most limp to what were most limp he stadiums last season. the all-star game midseason in july is a key selling point for the host city.

the rescheduled tokyo games are less than four months away. a 12-year-old skateboarding prodigy, sky brown, is set to compete with her sports debuts in july. she has fully recovered from a life-threatening accident last year and is now ready to perform on the biggest stage. reporter: sky brown is smiling again. despite the delay of games, she is raring to go for gold in and sees positives in the year-long wait to compete. >> i thought my dreams were gone . i felt sad. but then i realized, we just get more time to get better. and i got to spend time with my family. reporter: but the delay of the games was not heriggest setback that year. june, she revealed she suffered her worst fall yet.

the accident left her with skull fractures and a broken left wrist and hand. she was unresponsive on arrival at hospital, but made a full recovery. i am feeling stronger -- >> i am feeling stronger, actually, but yeah, it was a pretty hard time. my parents really wanted me to skate before but after that rely, there is no way you are getting back on a skateboard. reporter: during recovery, the half japanese-half british skateboarder went surfing and may treat it more than a hobby in the future. >> i actually want to enter in surfing in the olympics next year, or the next olympics, in paris. that would be really cool. reporter: her trailblazing debut in tokyo beckons. clare: a reminder of our top

story at this hour -- one police officer was killed and another injured when a car rammed a barricade outside the u.s. capitol in washington dc. the suspect, armed with a knife, has been shot dead. ♪ that is all for now, but stay with us because i will be back to take you through everything happening today with "the day," coming up after the break. you can find more on our website, dw.com. i'm clare richardson in berlin. for the whole team, thanks for watching. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] ♪

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the latest innovation and its impacts on a digital society. >> france 24 presented by julius caesar and peter o'brien on france 24 and france 24.com. >> 10:00 p.m. in the france capital and we are live from paris. these are the headlines. a u.s police officer is killed after a vehicle rammed through security and crashes into a barrier at the u.s. capitol. officials say the attack on the officer is not believed to be related to terrorism. kneeling on george floyd