A white Chevrolet van attempted to breach the perimeter of the White House Friday afternoon, causing the building to go into lockdown the Secret Service said. The van struck a security barrier around 3:30 p.m. at 17th St. NW and E St. NW, the Secret Service reported on Twitter.
BREAKING: An individual driving a passenger vehicle struck a security barrier near the White House at 17th & E.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) February 23, 2018
Officials declined to reveal the perpetrator’s name, identifying the driver only as a 35-year-old female from La Vergne, Tennessee. “No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident,” the Secret Service said. And no shots were fired,” they said.
The driver intentionally struck a security barricade, but never breached the perimeter. Officials say the woman was known to Secret Service personnel because she had been around the White House before and say that she is mentally ill.
“The Secret Service has had previous encounters with the female in the vicinity of the White House resulting in numerous arrests for a variety of criminal violations,” the statement said.
President Trump was in the building at the time but was never in danger according to authorities. He tweeted his appreciation for the Secret Service’s response after learning of the incident.
Thank you to the great men and women of the United States @SecretService for a job well done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2018