Vehicle strikes security barrier near the White House

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By BNO NEWS

A woman has been taken into custody after crashing her vehicle into a security barrier near the White House, the Secret Service says. The White House was put on lockdown but there are no reports of injuries.

The incident happened at about 3:15 p.m. ET on Friday when the minivan struck a security barrier near 17th Street and E Street NW, which is on the west side of the presidential complex. The woman was immediately taken into custody, officials said.

The suspect, whose identity was not immediately released, is believed to have intentionally rammed the barricade, according to CNN, which cited a law enforcement source. It added that the woman is known to the Secret Service and may be suffering from mental health issues.

The woman is not believed to have been targeting President Donald Trump or anyone else in the White House, CNN reported. The White House was put on lockdown as a precaution as officers checked out the suspect’s vehicle.

President Trump had just wrapped up a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when the incident occurred. Trump continued on with his schedule and met with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in the Oval Office.

The White House has been the scene of a number of security alerts over the past year. Most notably, in March 2017, a man climbed over a fence at the White House and was able to walk on the grounds for 16 minutes before being taken into custody. He was not able to enter the building itself.

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