The Free Press Journal

White House is locked down as suspicious package found INCIDENT Male suspect approached uniformed Secret Service agents with the package at around 10.15 in the morning

- LALIT K JHA

The White House was briefly locked down on Tuesday morning after a male suspect approached US Secret Service agents with a "suspicious package" and made suspicious comments. The man had approached uniformed officers at around 10.15 am when both President Donald Tru- mp and Vice President Mike Pence were inside White House.

“A male suspect approached uniform division officers in the area of 15th and Pennsylvan­ia (Avenue). He made some suspicious comments. He also had package. We separated the individual and the package. He is now in Secret Service custody," a Secret Service spokespers­on told reporters.

"Explosive disposal team are on the scene. We establishe­d a security perimeter, the media was moved in here (James S Brady press room) and East Wing tours were temporaril­y suspended. All other activities in White House continues as normal," the spokespers­on said.

“Yes,” the spokespers­on said when asked if the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

The lockdown was around 11.45 am.

Meanwhile, the President and the Vice President continued with their daily activities inside the White House.

“You keep us safe,” Trump said in a listening session with the Fraternal Order of Police. lifted

“I made a crucial pledge: we will always support the incredible and women of law enforcemen­t. I will always have your back 100%," Trump said, adding that sadly the police are often prevented from doing their jobs.

“In too many of our communitie­s, violent crime is on the rise. These are painful realities that many in Washington don't want to talk about. We have seen it all over," he said and expressed concern over the increasing violence in Chicago. PTI

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India