Secret Service officers have apprehended a man who jumped over the White House’s North Fence and appeared to be heading in the direction of the presidential residence.
President Obama was not in the White House at the time of the incident, as he and wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, were performing community service to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The incident occurred at 6.20pm local time, forcing the White House into a lockdown which ended less than an hour later.
The unidentified man, who was allegedly dressed in Pokemon merchandise, entered the grounds on the Northern side of the Presidential grounds and was immediately apprehended.
The officers with their guns drawn ordered the man to lie down.
The Secret Service have reported that the man is in custody.
Members of the White House staff described ‘a few scary moments’ when the man jumped the fence and appeared to run onto the grounds.
Onlookers posted photos and videos to social networking sites, hashtagging ‘#pikachu’ and ‘#yolo’.
Secret Service officers deal with fence jumpers or bags tossed over the fence as serious potential threats.
