The White House was placed under a temporary lockdown on Monday after a car crashed into a signpost in Lafayette Square, just across from the presidential residence in Washington DC. President Donald Trump was at the White House when the crash occurred.
The driver was detained following a physical confrontation with Secret Service officers and National Guard troops.
A silver sedan drove onto the paved area at the northern end of Lafayette Square and struck a signpost, according to video footage circulating online. White smoke was seen rising from the vehicle in the aftermath of the collision.
At around 10 am local time, the US Secret Service instructed members of the White House press corps to move indoors and remain there as security personnel responded to the incident.
The driver was taken into custody after a confrontation with security personnel. However, details about the driver’s identity, the circumstances leading to the crash and a possible motive were not immediately available.
Lafayette Square is located directly across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is a prominent public space near the presidential complex. The crash prompted a security response in the area, leading to temporary restrictions around the White House.
Further details about the incident, including whether anyone was injured and whether the crash was deliberate, were awaited.
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