White House on lockdown for second time in 2 days (VIDEO)
The White House was locked down for the second time this week, due to reports of a suspicious package. Media waiting for the daily press briefing were told to stay indoors.
BREAKING: White House on Lockdown; Press brought in-to the press room -- @SecretService tells press 'Stay inside please' pic.twitter.com/1raZwNsceu
— Kyle Mazza (@KyleMazzaWUNF) September 12, 2017
Lots of police activity by the White House. DHS on scene pic.twitter.com/uwc34XZCj7
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) September 12, 2017
A suspicious package was found on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Madison Place NW, the Secret Service told Sputnik. The intersection is on the northeast corner of the White House complex.
Currently experiencing my first lockdown at the @WhiteHouse ... @SecretService said suspicious package was found on Penn Ave & Madison Ave
— Cara Rinkoff (@CaraRinkoff) September 12, 2017
Uniformed Division Officers responding to a suspicious package near Madison & Penn. Ave. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic may be impacted.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) September 12, 2017
Fire department and police personnel were on the scene, RT America’s Alex Rubinstein reported.
Fire Dept. on scene in the park across the White House which is on lockdown due to suspicious package. Looks like police top brass there too pic.twitter.com/YF9hK8NsLK
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) September 12, 2017
This is the second time in two days that the Secret Service has locked down the White House due to a security incident. Two individuals were detained on Monday, after a man threw “a sign and a notebook” over the White House fence on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Secret Service said. The objects were declared “nonhazardous.”
Some reports said that one of the objects was a yoga mat. That was not confirmed by the Secret Service, however. President Donald Trump and the First Lady were not on the grounds at the time, but were attending the 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon.
In front of the White House after reporters got moved inside when a suspicious package caused a lockdown pic.twitter.com/EqDj3tDBU4
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) September 12, 2017
The lockdown was lifted shortly after 2 pm local time, the Secret Service said.
Final Update: Suspicious package has been cleared, @WhiteHouse activity returned to normal. Traffic to return to normal shortly.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) September 12, 2017
The 1500-1700 block part of Pennsylvania Avenue has been closed to vehicle traffic since 1995, after the Oklahoma City bombing. The policy was made permanent after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic is still allowed, unless there is a lockdown.
The north side of the White House grounds looks onto Lafayette Park, a popular tourist spot. Several incidents of people jumping over the spiked fence during the last two years of the Obama administration have prompted efforts to raise the fence and install additional spikes. An additional security perimeter was created along the southern side of the White House, restricting pedestrian access.
