White House safety increased after scare

The US Secret Service has bolstered security at the White House after a man was arrested for making threats at one of its checkpoints, the third such security scare in just over a week.

CNN reported that the man claimed he had a bomb in his car. He was immediately arrested and the car was seized.

President Donald Trump was away in Florida at the time

“On March 18 at approximately 11.05 pm, an individual drove a vehicle up to a Secret Service checkpoint located at 15th Street and E Street NW,” a Secret Service spokesman said in the latest of a series of White House security concerns.

“Upon contact with the individual, US Secret Service uniform division officers detained the individual and declared his vehicle suspicious.

In accordance with proper protocols, Secret Service personnel increased their posture of readiness,” he said.

Just hours earlier, a person had been arrested after jumping over a bike rack in an apparent bid to reach the fence outside the White House, the Secret Service said.

The individual was detained immediately and criminal charges were pending, the agency said in a statement, without identifying the suspect.

A Secret Service official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that person was not carrying any weapons.

The arrest came about a week after a more serious incident outside the White House.

Just before midnight on March 10, a man scaled three barriers outside the White House – a perimeter fence, a vehicle gate and another fence -- and walked around the grounds of the executive mansion for 16 minutes before being arrested.

That time, Trump was inside the building.