What happened at the White House? VIDEO shows a car crash and the arrest of two individuals

The White House was placed on lockdown for half an hour this Monday following two near-simultaneous incidents in the surrounding area, which led to the arrest of two individuals, reported the Secret Service, which is responsible for the security of the presidential residence.

The first incident occurred shortly before 10:00 AM (14:00 GMT), when a driver crashed his car into an information sign north of the White House, about 150 meters from the main entrance, next to Lafayette Square.

"The driver displayed an aggressive attitude toward law enforcement, but was immediately taken into custody," explained a Secret Service spokesperson in a message to the AFP.

Videos from tourists on social media show the car smoking after the crash. Upon exiting the vehicle, the driver begins swinging at the police officers surrounding him, who then proceed to immobilize him.

"At approximately the same time, a second person jumped over a barricade near the northwest corner of Lafayette Park. That person was also quickly placed under arrest," the spokesperson added on condition of anonymity.

President Donald Trump suffered an assassination attempt in July 2024, during an election campaign rally, at the hands of a young man armed with a rifle and a telescopic sight who climbed onto a roof near the event in Butler, Pennsylvania. On that occasion, the shooter was killed.

Another attempt took place months later, in September, when the Secret Service located an armed man hiding in some bushes at a golf course in Palm Beach where the Republican was playing. That man was arrested and convicted.

In April of this year, an armed man attempted to force his way into a hotel in the capital where Trump and a large part of his cabinet were attending the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The man fired at Secret Service agents at the entrance to the room, but he was wounded and disarmed.

Security around the White House has increased considerably following Trump's return, and traffic is restricted.

Last Thursday, an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, also armed, was arrested near the presidential complex. Weapons and cartridges were found in his car. The man claimed he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill the president, according to the official statement from security forces.