Woman Under Arrest after Vehicle Strikes White House Barrier
The White House was placed on immediate lockdown following the incident
© press
A woman has been held after her vehicle collided with the barrier outside the White House according to reports.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House holding a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when the collision occurred.
The White House was placed on immediate lockdown following the incident as reporters were gathered by secret service officers for safety.
Last year, an area in front of the White House was evacuated and Secret Service had placed the entire complex on security lockdown following an "unidentified" threat.
Construction crews working on the North Lawn have been told to leave the area whilst reporters inside the building have been confined to the James S. Brady briefing room while the threat is investigated.
IBtimes reports A woman has been held after a vehicle struck a barrier outside the White House it has been reported. President Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident, holding a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
UPDATE: The vehicle did not breach the security barrier of the White House complex.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
The White House was placed on lockdown and reporters were gathered in the press room as Secret Services officers rushed towards the residence.
No shots were fired and the vehicle did not breach the security barrier of the White House. There were no reports of any injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, who has not been identified, was immediately taken into custody by the Secret Service BBC News reports.
A US Secret Service spokesperson confirmed the incident tweeting: "An individual driving a passenger vehicle struck a security barrier near the White House at 17th & E".
