Spikes intended to discourage trespassers top the fence on the north side of the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2016. Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

White House lifts lockdown after object thrown over gate

Nation

WASHINGTON — The Secret Service says the White House has returned to normal operations after being placed on lockdown early Monday afternoon.

Secret Service spokesman Robert Hoback says someone at about 12:15 p.m. threw a metal object over the north fence along Pennsylvania Avenue and was arrested without incident. Hoback did not identify the person, though a witness saw a woman placed in handcuffs.

Fire trucks and a hazardous materials response unit were called to the scene. It's common for officers to sweep the grounds after such incidents to ensure nothing dangerous was thrown over the fence. Hoback says the sweep results were negative.

The lockdown ensued shortly after President Barack Obama returned from a Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery.

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White House lifts lockdown after object thrown over gate first appeared on the PBS News website.

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