Los Angeles, Jul 15 (IANS): Police in Los Angeles have detained an armed man for attempting to enter the parking garage of a federal building located in the city's downtown area, local media reported.

On Wednesday, the man with a gun tried to drive into the parking garage of Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, where a federal courthouse of the US District Court serving the Central District of California is located, Xinhua news agency quoted a CBS News reports as saying.

A statement released by the Department of Homeland Security said the incident was under investigation by the Federal Protective Service, which guards federal buildings across the country.

The Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were on the scene assisting in the investigation, according to the statement.

"The individual was stopped by contract Protective Security Officers, who noticed a firearm inside the vehicle. The vehicle was found to contain multiple lodged firearms and knives. The individual was wearing body armour," the statement said.

The suspect's identity has not been disclosed.