Mary Gay Scanlon, a member of the House of
Representatives, was carjacked at gunpoint by two men in a south Philadelphia
park but wasn’t injured, police and her office said.

Scanlon, the representative of
Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district, was walking to her parked vehicle
after a meeting in FDR park shortly before 3 PM (local time) on Wednesday when
two armed men snatched her car’s keys, police said. While one drove off in the
blue 2017 Acura MDX while the other followed in a dark-coloured sport utility
vehicle, police said, reported AP. The car had several personal and work items.

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According to a WPVI-TV report, the
congresswoman’s personal and government cellphones were inside, along with her
purse and identification. The police department is working with the FBI, which
is taking the lead in the investigation.

“I am relieved that Congresswoman Scanlon
was not physically injured, and my thoughts are with her during this difficult
time,” Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in a statement, vowing that
police would provide any support needed.

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Scanlon was among elected officials meeting
to discuss constituent concerns around ongoing development plans for the park,
The Philadelphia Inquirer said.

Her office said Scanlon expressed gratitude
to city police for their quick response and to her local police department and
the Sergeant at Arms in Washington for working with Philadelphia police “to
ensure her continued safety.”

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Mayor Jim Kenney said he was “appalled to
learn of this violent crime” against the congresswoman, whom he described
as his friend and colleague.

“My thoughts are with her during what I’m
sure is a traumatic time,” he said in a Twitter post.

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“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our
city, and sadly that hasn’t always been the case this year,” Kenney said.
“It’s disheartening and infuriating that criminals feel emboldened to commit
such a reckless crime in the middle of the day in what should be a place of
peace—one of our city’s parks.”