White House placed on lockdown after car crashes into nearby Lafayette Park

Washington DC - The White House was briefly placed on lockdown on Monday after a man crashed his car into the sidewalk of a park across from the presidential mansion.

Law enforcement investigates a vehicle that crashed into Lafayette Square Park on Monday in Washington DC. The car's driver was arrested, and the White House was briefly placed on lockdown.
Law enforcement investigates a vehicle that crashed into Lafayette Square Park on Monday in Washington DC. The car's driver was arrested, and the White House was briefly placed on lockdown.  © Andrew Leyden / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

The driver of the vehicle was "quickly placed under arrest" after he "became combative with law enforcement," a Secret Service spokesperson said.

Video taken by witnesses showed the man struggling with police after being pulled from his car, which crashed into a sign on the sidewalk of Lafayette Park across from the White House.

An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to "sweep the vehicle as a precaution," the Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.

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Around the same time as the vehicle incident, "a second individual jumped a barricade near the northwest corner of Lafayette Park," the spokesperson said.

"That individual was also quickly placed under arrest," the spokesperson said. "Both incidents are under investigation."

The White House was locked down for around half an hour during the incidents, correspondents said.

According to NBC News, members of the press were ordered to stay in the West Wing during the lockdown.

The outlet also reported that another individual "jumped a barricade near the northwest corner of Lafayette Park," a short walk from the crash site. That person has been arrested as well.

Cover photo: Andrew Leyden / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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