The man, who fired shots at in the underground Virginia metro station serving the US Department of Defense, has died from his wounds.

The information was confirmed Friday by the US authorities. The gunman passed away hours after his Thursday evening attack on two officers outside the Pentagon metro station, near Washington DC.

The officers returned fire with semiautomatic weapons, critically wounding the assailant, who has been identified as John Patrick Bedell, 36, of Hollister, California.

The two policemen suffered light injuries. They have been treated at the hospital and released.

The Pentagon Police Department, the Arlington County Police Department, the US Secret Service and the FBI are investigating the case including whether a second person is involved.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but information emerged that internet postings signed by a JPatrickBedell showed resentment of the US government and suspicions about the circumstances surrounding the 9/11 attacks.

The Pentagon, which is one of the largest office buildings in the world with 23 000 military and civilian employees, was attacked by terrorists on 9/11.

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