A man has been arrested after lighting himself on fire in front of the White House on Friday. The Secret Service is also checking for a suspicious package.
Reports indicate that he has been removed from the area.
According to the Secret Service:
ALERT: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
A New York Times reporter also documented the incident:
Someone apparently set himself on fire in front of the White House just now. I was coming out of the West Wing, and the Sevret Service isn’t letting anyone out onto Pennsylvania Ave. They say there are also suspicious packages.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 12, 2019
The whole area in front of the White House is now secured. Nobody coming in, and we aren’t allowed out. pic.twitter.com/NPMZD4jDeT
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 12, 2019
Secret Service now ordering us back toward West Wing. Here’s a shot of police and fire trucks on the side of the White House. pic.twitter.com/c3TGozgfgY
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 12, 2019
Nothing official but two Secret Service guys say the problem is suspicious packages in front of the White House, perhaps connected to the protester whom they said set himself on fire.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 12, 2019
Press corps outside the White House press room, looking steadfastly at…nothing. We are still not allowed out, and now we are being told to go inside West Wing again. pic.twitter.com/ngMirNq1wf
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 12, 2019
The Secret Service has commented and stated that there is no threat to President Trump and that the situation seems to be under control.
Secret service spokeswoman tells me a man set his jacket on fire in front of the White House. He is being treated for injuries. No threat to the President
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) April 12, 2019
