The White House has lifted a partial lockdown Monday that began after a woman threw a suspicious package onto the White House grounds.
The lockdown ended around 3:15 p.m. Eastern and Pennsylvania Avenue was once again reopened to the public.
A federal law enforcement official told WTOP that someone threw a container over the North Lawn Fence. One person is now in custody, according to the report.
Emergency vehicles outside the WH during lockdown for suspicious package. pic.twitter.com/G6rcAtNme2
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 30, 2016
Reports of a lockdown came in just after 1:20 p.m., not long after President Obama returned to the White House following an appearance at the Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Emergency vehicles arrived on the scene soon after and a Hazmat team examined the container.
Hazmat personnel in protective suits examining material thrown over fence onto WH lawn. pic.twitter.com/PFI3nz80Vc
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 30, 2016
Secret Service would not immediately allow reporters to leave the White House grounds.
Reporters not being allowed to leave White House because of incident near gate on Pennsylvania Ave. @POTUS is here on campus.
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) May 30, 2016
Reporters who needed to leave the White House, were later permitted to exit through a gate other than the Northwest Gate.
Reporters who need to leave White House are being escorted out a different gate. Northwest hate could be closed for a couple hours.
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) May 30, 2016
At around 3:10 p.m., emergency vehicles began leaving the White House and the suspicious materials were bagged and carried away.
Suspicious material removed from WH lawn bagged and being carried away. pic.twitter.com/tf2wFKyBAU
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 30, 2016
The incident Monday follows a number of White House lockdowns this year, including one on May 20th in which a suspect brandishing a gun was shot at a checkpoint near the White House.
