There are reports of sounds of gunfire or other similar loud noise outside the White House gate, and the focus seems to be on one individual:
Just witnessed something outside the white house, two firecracker sounds. Police tackled the guy, who was by himself pic.twitter.com/F6v6OMoK1K
— Rachel Jackson (@_racheljackson) September 16, 2013
Fox News’ Ed Henry is on the scene:
i heard two pops like gunfire then a secret service officer engaged pic.twitter.com/y0ufb0GIok
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) September 16, 2013
Secret Service now clearing the entire North Lawn for safety pic.twitter.com/I8N8fGRUt6
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) September 16, 2013
Secret Service scattered all around & taking v seriously pic.twitter.com/6g3LxJc1qO
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) September 16, 2013
The view from inside the White House:
https://twitter.com/AlexJamesFitz/status/379740973712310272
Update:
Good news. Apparently the commotion was caused by a fool with firecrackers:
Ah – Secret Service says a dude threw firecrackers over the White House fence – it wasn't shots.
— Patricia Zengerle (@ReutersZengerle) September 16, 2013
MT @jeffmason1: Secret Service says there were no shots outside White House. A male threw firecrackers
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) September 16, 2013
UPDATE: No shooting at White House. Bystanders say a man threw a lit firecracker over the fence and was tackled.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 16, 2013
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The man has been arrested:
US Secret Service: Man taken into custody for throwing fireworks over White House fence (PHOTO) pic.twitter.com/r5Suype5Tv
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) September 16, 2013
The secret service would have been forgiven for lighting up the firecracker thrower's ass with a few crowning glories.
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) September 16, 2013
Punishment for firecracker thrower should be for moms and dads of White House staffers to get to slap him silly.
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) September 16, 2013
Twitchy will monitor this story and update as more information is available.
Editor’s note: This post has been updated to include additional tweets.
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