White House placed in LOCKDOWN over security fears
THE White House is in lockdown after a security alert.
The White House is in lockdown
The North Lawn and surrounding areas were evacuated just before 4pm (local time) over fears of a possible security breach.
A person on the scene said: “The White House appears to be in a state of lockdown. The door from the outside to the Brady Briefing Room is locked. “
Reports say the trouble was caused by a fence jumper - but these remain unconfirmed.
The North Lawn was evacuated just before 4pm (local time)
A heavily armed member of the Secret Service patrols with a K-9 on the North Lawn of the White House
Tourists were cleared from Lafayette Park, which is directly north of the presidential residence
CQ Roll Call's John Bennett said: "I was leaving and got sequestered in the security building. There was a jumper at the EEOB."
Tourists were cleared from Lafayette Park, which is directly north of the presidential residence.
Secret Service agents are said to have requested a stretcher and the individual is in a moat.
The lockdown was lifted after 30 minutes when security officials deemed the situation not to be threatening.
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An apparent fence jumper attempted to enter the White House ground
It comes after an Army veteran with a folding knife jumped the fence and made it all the way into the East Room of the White House before he was tackled.
Officials found rifles, ammunition and a tomahawk in his car.
Omar Gonzalez was sentenced to 17 months in prison in June.
The 2014 incident led to questions about security at the White House. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigned.