The White House has been placed on a lockdown after reports of a suspicious car around the northwest gate of the building, reports The Associated Press. At 5:45 (ET), the White House was given the all-clear.
Here's another shot of the Honda that has the White House on lockdown by getting past the checkpoint at 17th&Penn pic.twitter.com/zp9NRd5kWq
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) May 6, 2014
Here’s what you need to know:
1. A Honda Prompted the Lockdown
JUST IN: Police say driver arrested for trying to follow motorcade through security checkpoint near White House. #wbz pic.twitter.com/Ju4iLQWZIK
— Peter Wilson (@PetesWire) May 6, 2014
A car was parked at the northwest gate of the White House:
Secret Service clears Penn Ave outside White House after suspicious car enters closed area. pic.twitter.com/SLUErGTL4P
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 6, 2014
2. The Car is Believed to Have Followed Obama’s Daughters to the White House
Walking into White House – procession of official cars let in along with guy following in the Honda- he looked very confused during pat down
— Patty Culhane (@PattyCulhane) May 6, 2014
There are conflicting reports as to who the car was following. Originally it was thought to be the motorcade of Secretary of State John Kerry but NBC’s Peter Alexander believes it was Obama’s daughters in the car. CBS DC has also said that the car was trying to follow Obama’s daughters through a checkpoint.
Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane has tweeted that the driver of the car, a Honda, was “confused.” He has been taken into custody by members of the Secret Service.
3. The White House Press Corps is the Most Affected
(Getty)
Reporters were moved from the White House’s press room after the lockdown was ordered. This coming just days after they were honored by the White House at the correspondents dinner.
4. Obama Was Home
(Getty)
President Barack Obama was in the White House at the time and was scheduled to meet with John Kerry at 4:15 p.m.
5. This Will Bring Back Memories of the Miriam Carey Incident
(Facebook)
This lockdown comes less than a year after Miriam Carey forced a similar situation due to her erratic driving around Pennsylvania Avenue.