White House briefly locked down after car mounts Lafayette Square sidewalk; two arrested

The White House was briefly locked down for about 30 minutes on Monday morning (November 9) after two separate security incidents near Lafayette Square: a car mounted the sidewalk at the north end of the park, and a second person jumped a barricade nearby. Both people were arrested. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. (Image: file photo of the White House, unrelated to this incident.)

Car hits sign; driver arrested

According to Reuters, citing a Secret Service spokesperson, the incident happened shortly before 10 a.m., when a silver sedan drove onto the sidewalk at the north end of Lafayette Square, near the intersection of 16th and H Streets NW, and struck an informational sign, with smoke coming from its engine. The driver was combative with law enforcement officers and was quickly taken into custody; the Metropolitan Police Department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called in to examine the vehicle as a precaution.

Second person jumped a barricade

At almost the same time, a second person jumped a security barricade nearby and was also taken into custody. The authorities have not released either person's identity or any charges, and have not said whether the two incidents were linked. The Secret Service said it was investigating both. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time, according to reports, and journalists were at one point directed to stay in the West Wing briefing room.

Qatar's prime minister was still scheduled to meet Trump in the Oval Office later in the day, according to reports.