Loud Noise Near White House Triggers Lockdown

A loud noise at the White House triggered a lockdown earlier this morning, while the Secret Service surveyed the grounds for anything suspicious:

Loud noise heard on South Lawn of White House as Obamas about to depart filer Selma. Press sent back to briefing room, doors locked.

— Steve Thomma (@stevethomma) March 7, 2015

WHITE HOUSE LOCKDOWN: Fire outside WH shortly before president scheduled to leave for Selma. http://t.co/tHooAB6lJv pic.twitter.com/xYq2JoaNB8

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) March 7, 2015

A bomb-sniffing dog detected a suspicious vehicle near the White House, while in the vicinity, there was a vendor cart on fire, though the Secret Service did not say the two were related.

The vendor cart went up in flames and firefighters showed up on the scene to put it out before it spread:

So this fire just broke out right outside the White House…. pic.twitter.com/jxMdPIgmRI

— Will Sweet (@will_sweet1) March 7, 2015

A Secret Service spokesman explained what happened in an email:

K9 alerted on a vehicle at 16th and Constitution. Being swept now. One of the vendor carts at 15th and G apparently had a smoke or fire issue that is contained with DC Fire on scene.

[h/t Gawker]
[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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