White House locked down after man tries to jump fence

Suspect taken into custody while suspicious bags are screened, US Secret Service says

A man with two suspicious bags attempted to climb a White House fence today before being apprehended. Photograph:  Michael Reynolds/EPA.
A man with two suspicious bags attempted to climb a White House fence today before being apprehended. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA.

A man with two suspicious bags attempted to climb a White House fence today before being apprehended.

The incident resulted in a security lockdown of the White House grounds.

A Secret Service spokesman said the man was taken into custody and his bags were being screened.

“He did not make it over the fence,” a US Secret Service spokesman said.

READ MORE

The area around the White House was shut down and reporters were not allowed to leave through one of the gates because of the incident.

President Barack Obama was in Michigan at the time.

Reuters