The US Secret Service has detained a woman who jumped over a security barrier surrounding the White House in an incident that sparked a brief security alarm.
"Secret Service responding to an individual who jumped the bike rack along the North Fence Line of Penn Ave. Suspect in custody," said the Secret Service on its Twitter account, noting that the incident occurred at 4.18 pm on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Secret Service said that the individual jumped over the security barrier on Pennsylvania Avenue, and apparently intended to scale the north fence bordering the White House grounds, adding that the person was charged with trespassing and transported to the Washington police department.
The Secret Service said it activated its security protocols and instructed the public to stay away from the area while the person was arrested.
The statement released by the Secret Service provided no details about the person, but a journalist in the area said that a woman had tried to jump the White House fence.
One America News reporter Trey Yingst said on Twitter that Secret Service agents moved all reporters - who had been in the White House gardens - inside the White House after the security incident.
In recent years, several intruders have tried to get over the White House fence, situations that have resulted in a noteworthy increase in security around the perimeter of the presidential residence.
Before the recent incidents, tourists had been able to approach the White House fence to take photos of the mansion but now they cannot get closer than several yards to the fence itself, given that a second security barrier has been set up.
On March 10, Jonathan Tran climbed over the White House fence carrying pepper spray and moved around in the gardens and yard for almost 17 minutes before being arrested, after which security was reinforced in the southern grounds of the mansion.
