White House on lockdown over suspicious package

The Secret Service placed the White House on lockdown for about 45 minutes Tuesday due to a suspicious package.

“.@SecretService investigating suspicious package near @WhiteHouse grounds. Road closures in effect,” the agency tweeted.

.@SecretService investigating suspicious package near @WhiteHouse grounds. Road closures in effect.

— 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

Streets around the White House were closed off and staff and media members were blocked from entering the complex. Other members of the public were cleared out of Lafayette Park across from the North Lawn. 

The lockdown was lifted just after 11:30 AM.

{mosads}An agency spokesperson told reporters the incident began when a man holding a package approached a uniformed officer at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. at 10:15 a.m. and made suspicious comments. 

The man was later taken into custody by the Secret Service. 

Explosive teams searched the area but the spokesperson did not say what, if anything, they discovered. East Wing tours were suspended in response to the incident. 

The lockdown comes after a series of security breaches that have raised new questions about the agency’s ability to protect the White House grounds. 

A man earlier this month allegedly jumped the fence earlier this month and spent around 15 minutes on the White House grounds before being apprehended.

“The service did a fantastic job last night,” Trump told reporters a day later, adding that “it was a troubled person.”

– Updated at 12:12 p.m.