White House forced shut after van ploughs into security gate

The White House was forced under a lockdown early Wednesday after a van smashed through a security barricade near the presidential complex, prompting a shutdown of the surrounding area during the morning rush hour, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC) said.

According to the police, the vehicle rammed into a gate at Lafayette Square, just north of the White House, around 6.30 am local time.


“A driver has been detained after crashing a van through a White House barricade early Wednesday,” police said in a statement, ABC News reported.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and H Street, Northwest, according to the reports, forcing road closures and a swift response from Secret Service officers and the Metropolitan Police Department.

The area, usually crowded with tourists and office workers, was immediately sealed off as officers moved in to secure the scene. According to a local news report, the driver of the van was detained, while no casualties were reported by the authorities.

Officials have not yet released details about the driver or any possible motive behind the breach. The Secret Service continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Police cordoned off several major streets around the White House, preventing government employees and city workers from reaching their offices as traffic came to a standstill across the area. Dozens of emergency vehicles with flashing lights crowded the scene, while tourists and residents waited on the sidewalks for roads to reopen, scrolling through their phones for the latest updates.

Washington remains on heightened alert amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, a conflict that has intensified security measures across the capital.