White House On Lockdown After Shots Fired

A gunman has shot himself outside the White House, with the US Secret Service temporarily putting the building on lockdown.

Officers responded to reports “of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound along the north fence line”.

No other injuries were reported, with medics at the scene treating the unidentified male victim.

The incident happened about 12pm local time (5pm UK time) and the surrounding area was cordoned off.

Donald Trump was in Mar-a-Lago, Florida at the time of the incident and was due to return to Washington DC later on Saturday.

Reporters inside the White House tweeted that they had been told to shelter in place.

Secret Service officers said pedestrian and vehicular traffic was affected in the aftermath of the shooting.

The White House Press Secretary said: “We are aware of the situation, the President has been briefed.”

Such disturbances outside the White House are not uncommon.

Last month, a woman was arrested after crashing her vehicle into a security barrier near the presidential residence.

People have also made numerous attempts to jump over fences around the building.

 

 

This story was originally reported by Sky News