THE WHITE HOUSE was evacuated last night after a man jumped a fence and made it through the doors of the building before being apprehended.
The incident happened at around 7.30pm local time (11.30pm GMT) last night, just minutes after US President Barack Obama had left the White House by helicopter with his family.
It was a rare security breach at the White House, which is one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the world. Associated Press reports that it is unclear whether a fence-jumper has ever made it into the White House before.
The 42-year-old man from Texas, named as Omar Gonzalez, made it through the North Portico doors of the presidential residence before being caught by Secret Service agents.
“It appeared to responding officers that he was unarmed, which turned out to be true,” Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said.
“Gonzalez ignored the commands of those officers to stop and ultimately was apprehended by officers just inside the North Portico doors of the White House”.
Gonzalez was brought to a nearby hospital to be examined after he complained of chest pain. He has been charged with unlawful entry.
White House staff and journalists were rushed out of the building by Secret Service agents immediately after the security breach.
“This situation was a little different than other incidents we have at the White House,” said Ed Donovan, another Secret Service spokesman. “There will be a thorough investigation into the incident”.
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