Reports suggest that gun shots have been fired at the White House with a man allegedly suffering a 'self-inflicted gun shot wound' on the North Lawn.
The incident resulted in increased security at the White House with members of the media tweeting that they have been told to take shelter until further notice. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic has been affected in the area.
The US President Donald Trump is not in residence at the White House this weekend - he is instead at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. However, he has been briefed on the incident.
Advert
"We're sheltering in place at the White House briefing room. A report of 'shots fired' near North Lawn, per a U.S. Secret Service agent. Trying to learn more," NBC's White House correspondent Geoff Bennett tweeted.
The US Secret Service confirmed via Twitter that personnel are responding to the incident which took place along the White House's North Lawn.
Medical personnel are now attending to the man. No other people are believed to have been injured in the incident.
This is not the only security scare that has taken place outside the White House in recent weeks.
Advert
The incident comes little more than a week after a woman intentionally drove a van into a security barrier near the White House while President Trump was in residence at the property.
The 35-year-old woman from the state of Tennessee was quickly arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Police Department, although the incident led to the White House being temporarily placed on partial lockdown.
The woman now faces charges of unlawful entry, carrying a pistol without a licence, possession of an unregistered firearm, aggravated assault on a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon-car, destruction of government property and contempt of court, Reuters reports.
The woman is known to have faced 'numerous arrests for a variety of criminal violations' near to the White House. CNN stated that the incident is not believed to have been directed at anyone at the White House and mental health may have been a factor.
Featured Image Credit: PA
