Vehicle Explosion Causes White House Lockdown
Image courtesy of Damian Brandon at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The White House was on lockdown after a souvenir truck that caught fire caused a loud bang on a nearby street. The incident happened just as President Barack Obama was set to leave for the 50th anniversary of the Selma civil Right march.
The security alert took place right before Obama and the family was set to board a helicopter from the South Lawn of the presidential mansion, which was headed to Andrews Air Force Base.
Brian Leary, spokesman with the Secret Service, said the fire was contained and vehicle located adjacent to the White House had been invested and cleared after a dog trained in bomb-sniffing had sensed something on it.
Instead of a helicopter the First Family left by motorcade an hour later and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base where they boarded Air Force One.
A number of streets located around the White House were shut down for several hours but were back open shortly after noon. According to the Secret Service, tours of the White House were also interrupted but were started again by late morning after the dog team cleared the vehicle.
The souvenir tuck is owned by a non-English speaking Korean family from Virginia. That vehicle was totally engulfed and destroyed by the fire.
In the last several months, the White House has suffered several lockdowns, mainly due to intruders getting over the fence.
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