The Secret Service arrested a man who set his jacket on fire outside the White House on Friday afternoon.
“A male subject operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave. outside the North Fence Line. Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid,” the Secret Service tweeted.
UPDATE: A male subject operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave. outside the North Fence Line. Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
The Secret Service added that the person in question was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Report: Man Lights himself on fire in front of the White House …
That’ll show Trump …. pic.twitter.com/MqsnX7pOfb
— Stephanie Hamill (@STEPHMHAMILL) April 12, 2019
EWTN White House Correspondent Mark Irons tweeted a video of four law enforcement agents carrying a man away from the scene. “@SecretService just apprehended man who tried to set himself on fire outside @WhiteHouse agent tells us,” Irons said.
HAPPENING NOW: @SecretService just apprehended man who tried to set himself on fire outside @WhiteHouse agent tells us pic.twitter.com/GvPYEZ8Cnm
— Mark Irons (@MarkIronsMedia) April 12, 2019
The man was quickly apprehended and extinguished by a large group of officers.
Secret Service says man lit his outer jacket on fire outside the White House grounds and has been hospitalized with what appear to be non-life threatening injuries https://t.co/SZmGpxOclq pic.twitter.com/BfOsETrq0A
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 12, 2019
The Secret Service previously tweeted, “ALERT: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.”
ALERT: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
“UPDATE: Pennsylvania Ave. is closed to pedestrian traffic, 17th street between H and G is closed to vehicular traffic,” the Secret Service said in another tweet.
UPDATE: Pennsylvania Ave. is closed to pedestrian traffic, 17th street between H and G is closed to vehicular traffic.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
White House staff and reporters were on lockdown on the premises.
The whole area in front of the White House is now secured. Nobody coming in, and we aren’t allowed out. pic.twitter.com/NPMZD4jDeT
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 12, 2019
Some reported that a significant amount of smoke was emanating from the man’s jacket.
The fire set off a good amount of smoke that was visible from the White House North Lawn. Officers quickly scrambled to clear pedestrians from Pennsylvania Ave, running & shouting at people to clear the area. https://t.co/IMYEpdsryI
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) April 12, 2019
The President was not reported to be under threat from the incident.
About 30 USSS agents just crossed from White House to driveway in front of West Wing for a briefing on the incident outside the gates.
Helicopters are circling overhead as a light drizzle is falling.
Sound of emergency sirens as ambulance arrives. pic.twitter.com/sM5zHz8Bj0
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 12, 2019
