BREAKING: White House Area Shut Down After Van Breaches Security Barricade
A van breached White House security barricades near Lafayette Square this morning, triggering a major lockdown in downtown D.C.
A van crashed into a security barricade near the White House early Wednesday morning, prompting authorities to detain the driver and close off several streets in downtown Washington, D.C., during rush hour.
The incident occurred around 6:37 a.m. EDT at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and H Street NW, near Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to assist the U.S. Secret Service after the vehicle drove through the barricade.
No injuries were reported, and the driver was apprehended at the scene and is currently being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation.
Streets affected by the shutdown include 15th Street and E Street NW, as well as H Street NW between 15th and 17th Streets.
The area, typically bustling with tourists and office workers, remains under lockdown amid heightened security in Washington due to the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
Authorities have not released further details about the driver or the van's contents, and the Secret Service is leading the probe.
Anyone with information is urged to contact MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.