A man who rammed a U-Haul truck into security fencing around the White House on Monday night has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict harm on the president, vice president or family member, authorities said.
Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the U.S. Secret Service – which is investigating the incident – released the following statement:
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. Monday, Secret Service Uniformed Division officers detained the driver of a box truck after the vehicle collided with security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square on 16th Street. There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation. Road closures are in effect and pedestrian walkways are closed as we investigate.
“The truck has been deemed safe by @DCPoliceDept & preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square. Charges will be filed by the United States Park Police with investigative support from the #SecretService,” Guglielmi said in a follow-up tweet.
According to a United States Park Police statement, the driver was identified as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri. The agency said Kandula “intentionally crashed into the bollards on the outside of Lafayette Park.”
Kandula was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member, destruction of federal property and trespassing.
The assault comes after an intruder entered the home of White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the U.S. Secret Service said. Agents stationed at Sullivan’s house were reportedly unaware of the intrusion until after the individual left the scene.
This was a breaking news story. The details were periodically updated as more information became available.
