UPDATE 8;08 pm ET: Secret Service tweeted that the driver of the van was a 35-year-old woman from Tennessee. The incident is being treated as an intentional act.
A 35 yr old female from Tennessee has been taken into custody for intentionally driving her vehicle into a @WhiteHouse security barricade
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 24, 2018
The Secret Service announced that a vehicle rammed into a security barrier outside of the White House Friday afternoon.
According to the official Secret Service Twitter account, the vehicle struck a barrier at the corner of 17th Street NW and E Street NW.
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The female driver of the vehicle was reportedly apprehended by authorities after a brief confrontation with Secret Service officials.
BREAKING: An individual driving a passenger vehicle struck a security barrier near the White House at 17th & E.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
UPDATE: The vehicle did not breach the security barrier of the White House complex.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
UPDATE: The female driver of the vehicle was immediately apprehended by Secret Service Uniformed Division Officers.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
UPDATE: Traffic patterns near 17th and E are affected
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
No Secret Service officials were injured in the incident, nor were any officers forced to discharge their firearms.
UPDATE: No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident involving a vehicle hitting a barrier near the White House.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
UPDATE: No shots were fired during the vehicle incident near the White House.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
According to Fox News, the driver of the car appears to be suffering from mental problems and was previously known about by the Secret Service. This incident is not believed to be a direct attack on the president’s life.
MSNBC managed to get a camera on scene. It appears that the vehicle used in the incident was a white mini van with an American flag on the trunk. The back windshield of the van was shattered. Officers are on the scene and currently investigating the vehicle for explosives.
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Traffic patterns surrounding the White House are currently disrupted as officials continue to investigate the situation.
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In recent years, multiple individuals have attempted to unlawfully enter the White House grounds. Multiple “fence jumpers” were apprehended during the Obama administration.
One woman was fatally shot after attempting to force entry into the grounds via her car and leading police on a chase across Washington, DC.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.