White House Under Lockdown After Vehicle Crashes Near Lafayette Park
A vehicle crashed near Lafayette Park outside the White House, prompting a security lockdown as the driver fought with the Secret Service. U.S. President Donald Trump was inside at the time, and no injuries were reported.
A security incident occurred near the White House in Washington on Monday after a vehicle collided with a sign in Lafayette Park. The driver exited the vehicle and engaged in a physical altercation with members of the U.S. Secret Service and the National Guard, who quickly subdued him. Following the incident, authorities imposed a security lockdown on the White House complex.
Footage shared by American journalist Martin Osterla showed a silver car stopped near a sign in the park with smoke rising from its front end, while security personnel surrounded the vehicle and struggled with the suspect. "It is not entirely clear what happened, but someone crashed their vehicle into a sign at the northern edge of Lafayette Park and then fought with Secret Service and National Guard personnel after getting out," Osterla wrote.
Secret Service agents directed journalists inside the White House complex to shelter in place within the briefing room. CBS correspondent Jennifer Jacobs reported that security personnel instructed reporters to remain indoors while the security forces managed the situation. Large contingents of the Secret Service, police, and the National Guard rushed to the scene, with snipers deployed on the roof of the White House.
According to a report by MS NOW correspondent Vaughn Hillyard, a second individual was spotted inside the secure zone of Lafayette Park following the crash. That person was also brought to the ground and escorted away by security officers. A Fox News reporter noted that witnesses saw one person remain inside the car while another got out, though authorities have not yet confirmed the exact relationship between the individuals.
The New York Post noted that the vehicle did not reach the gates of the White House, which are located more than a block away from the crash site. The driver was taken away in handcuffs, and his identity has not been officially released. U.S. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident, and the lockdown was implemented as a strict precautionary measure.
No initial injuries were reported in connection with the incident, which adds to a series of security breaches near the White House in recent months. Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the crash, and no official confirmation has been provided indicating an assassination attempt or a deliberate terrorist attack.
