White House Locked Down After Car Crashes Near Lafayette Square

The White House was placed under lockdown Monday morning after a driver crashed into a sign at the northern end of Lafayette Square. The silver sedan began smoking after the impact, and Secret Service officers and National Guard troops surrounded the vehicle.

The driver exited the car and physically clashed with security personnel before being taken into custody. During the confrontation, someone shouted "Get on the ground!" as officers worked to arrest the man.

“Get on the ground!”

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident. His schedule included morning executive time, an 11 a.m. policy meeting, and a noon meeting with Qatar's prime minister in the Oval Office.

The Secret Service stated that two people are now in custody for two separate incidents. The vehicle did not reach the White House gates, which were located more than a block away from the crash site.

Officials called the Metropolitan Police Department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit as a precaution. The lockdown was temporary while authorities responded to the possible security breach nearby.