Police officer shot in downtown Chicago

A police officer was shot Tuesday afternoon in downtown Chicago in U.S. state of Illinois, according to Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

The shooting took place around 2 p.m. local time in South Loop area, authorities said. The victim has been taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and his condition is unknown.

The officer was shot by an "assailant" while assisting a tactical team in the 100 block of West Randolph, Guglielmi said on Twitter.