The Secret Service announced Tuesday that after investigating, it has cleared a “suspicious package” near the White House grounds.
“Road closures in effect,” the agency tweeted at 9:42 a.m. “Security perimeter established & members of the public & media are being moved to safe a distance.”
An agency spokesman said that a male suspect approached an officer, according to a White House pool report. The suspect made suspicious comments and was carrying a package from which officers separated him.
Explosives teams are on the scene and tours of the East Wing have been temporarily suspended, per the spokesman, who said that the suspect is in Secret Service custody in a vehicle.
At 11:19 a.m., the agency tweeted that the package was “cleared” and related road closures have been lifted.
.@SecretService investigating suspicious package near @WhiteHouse grounds. Road closures in effect.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 28, 2017
USSS is investigating suspicious package; security perimeter established & members of the public & media are being moved to safe a distance
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 28, 2017
Suspicious package investigation continues; suspect in custody! pic.twitter.com/O25gr5B72f
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 28, 2017
Suspicious package near @WhiteHouse grounds cleared. All road closures related to this incident are lifted.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 28, 2017
An intruder carrying mace made it over the White House fence earlier in March and was not apprehended until about 15 minutes later, in the first known security breach at the White House since Trump took office.
A different man was detained eight days later after jumping over an outer barrier surrounding the White House. He carried a document he wanted to deliver to the White House, according to a CNN report, and did not make it to the White House fence proper.
This post has been updated.
