White House security breach: 'Phone' was thrown over the fence; lockdown imposed briefly

The White House was temporarily put under lockdown on Tuesday after a “phone” was thrown over the security fence. "Somebody threw their phone over the fence", confirmed the press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

This immediately prompted security measures by Secret Service agents as they responded to reports of an object being thrown which appeared to be a “phone”, over the North Lawn fence around midday, reported ANI.

Members of the press corps awaiting education secretary Linda McMahon’s appearance on Fox News were swiftly escorted into the James S. Brady Briefing Room as agents secured the area, prohibiting access.

The Secret Service imposed a full lockdown of the White House grounds and temporarily shut down Pennsylvania Avenue to traffic. By 11.56 am (local time), the security measures were lifted, and journalists were allowed back onto the North Lawn.

Reporters had reassembled in the Palm Room by 12.20 pm (local time) before the US President Donald Trump’s scheduled departure for an event in Pennsylvania.

The White House has not issued an official statement regarding the security breach as of yet.

This is not the first instance of a security breach in the White House. Earlier this year a child had crawled his way through the fence of north lawn and tried to enter the White House. “Officers quickly reunited the child with their parents without incident,” said Anthony Guglielmi a Secret Service spokesperson, through a social media post.