TIME White House

Suspicious Car Causes White House Lockdown

Jonathan Ernst—Reuters U.S. President Barack Obama, his daughters Malia and Sasha, and first lady Michelle watch an NCAA men's basketball game between Oregon State and the University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland, November 17, 2013

An unauthorized car trailing a motorcade containing the first daughters put the White House on lockdown Tuesday afternoon. The vehicle belonged to an employee of the Treasury Department who did not have security clearance to pass the checkpoint

The White House went on lockdown briefly on Tuesday afternoon after a car made it past the Pennsylvania Avenue barricades, officials said.

Security authorities cleared the North Lawn, closed the gates and instructed White House occupants to remain inside after a blue Honda Civic parked near the building’s entrance, ABC reports.

The vehicle belonged to an employee of the Treasury Department who was trailing a motorcade containing the president’s daughters and did not have security clearance to pass the checkpoint. The driver is now in custody.

A spokesperson would not confirm whether the breech was intended or the result of a wrong turn, the BBC reports. The lockdown lasted for approximately half an hour.

[ABC]

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