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| White House intruder arrested after prompting evacuation | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An intruder who sparked an evacuation of the White House managed to get inside after jumping over the fence just minutes after President Obama had left, the US secret service said on Saturday. | An intruder who sparked an evacuation of the White House managed to get inside after jumping over the fence just minutes after President Obama had left, the US secret service said on Saturday. |
| The incident on Friday may have been the first time a fence-jumper has made it inside the US president's official residence. | The incident on Friday may have been the first time a fence-jumper has made it inside the US president's official residence. |
| After scaling the fence on the north side of the White House, the intruder ran toward the building, ignoring calls from secret service agents to stop, spokesman Ed Donovan said. | After scaling the fence on the north side of the White House, the intruder ran toward the building, ignoring calls from secret service agents to stop, spokesman Ed Donovan said. |
| The 42-year-old man was apprehended just inside the north portico doors – the grand entrance that looks out over Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. | The 42-year-old man was apprehended just inside the north portico doors – the grand entrance that looks out over Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. |
| Donovan said the man appeared to be unarmed to officers who spotted him jumping the fence. No weapons were found on the suspect, identified as Omar J Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas. He was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital after complaining of chest pain. | Donovan said the man appeared to be unarmed to officers who spotted him jumping the fence. No weapons were found on the suspect, identified as Omar J Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas. He was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital after complaining of chest pain. |
| The secret service spokesman said a thorough investigation of the incident would be carried out. "This situation was a little different than other incidents we have at the White House," Donovan said. | The secret service spokesman said a thorough investigation of the incident would be carried out. "This situation was a little different than other incidents we have at the White House," Donovan said. |
| Although it is not exceptional for intruders to make it over the White House fence, almost all are stopped immediately. Video of the incident showed the suspect, in jeans and a dark shirt, sprinting across the lawn as secret service agents shouted at nearby pedestrians to clear the area. | Although it is not exceptional for intruders to make it over the White House fence, almost all are stopped immediately. Video of the incident showed the suspect, in jeans and a dark shirt, sprinting across the lawn as secret service agents shouted at nearby pedestrians to clear the area. |
| The incident prompted a rare evacuation of much of the White House. Inside the west wing, staff and journalists were ordered into the basement and others evacuated to the street by agents, some with their weapons drawn. | The incident prompted a rare evacuation of much of the White House. Inside the west wing, staff and journalists were ordered into the basement and others evacuated to the street by agents, some with their weapons drawn. |
| The incident occurred shortly after 7pm, minutes after Obama and his daughters, along with a guest of one of the girls, left the White House by helicopter bound for Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland where Obama and his family were spending the weekend. First lady Michelle Obama had travelled separately and was not in the building when the incident occurred. | The incident occurred shortly after 7pm, minutes after Obama and his daughters, along with a guest of one of the girls, left the White House by helicopter bound for Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland where Obama and his family were spending the weekend. First lady Michelle Obama had travelled separately and was not in the building when the incident occurred. |
| Evacuations at the White House are rare. The compound is usually put on lockdown and those inside remain in place while officers respond when fence-jumping incidents take place. | Evacuations at the White House are rare. The compound is usually put on lockdown and those inside remain in place while officers respond when fence-jumping incidents take place. |
| Last week, the secret service apprehended a man who jumped over the same stretch of fence on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. | Last week, the secret service apprehended a man who jumped over the same stretch of fence on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. |
| The secret service has struggled in recent years to strike a balance between ensuring the first family's security and preserving the public's access to the White House grounds. Once open to vehicles, the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was confined to pedestrians after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, but officials have been reluctant to further restrict access to the area. | The secret service has struggled in recent years to strike a balance between ensuring the first family's security and preserving the public's access to the White House grounds. Once open to vehicles, the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was confined to pedestrians after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, but officials have been reluctant to further restrict access to the area. |
| The security breach is likely to spark renewed scrutiny of the secret service, which has been hit in recent years by numerous allegations of misconduct. | The security breach is likely to spark renewed scrutiny of the secret service, which has been hit in recent years by numerous allegations of misconduct. |
| In April 2012 agents were alleged to have engaged prostitutes when assigned to protect Obama at an international gathering in Colombia. | In April 2012 agents were alleged to have engaged prostitutes when assigned to protect Obama at an international gathering in Colombia. |