Two people were arrested near the White House in Washington on Monday, 9 November, after a car drove onto a pavement beside Lafayette Square and another person crossed a nearby security barricade. The incidents prompted a temporary lockdown while officers established what had happened.
The US Secret Service said the arrests occurred at roughly the same time, shortly before 10am local time (3pm GMT). President Donald Trump was at the White House during the security alert, according to Reuters. Investigators have not established whether the two incidents were connected.
What happened near Lafayette Square?
Secret Service Police and members of the National Guard responded to a silver car that had driven onto the pavement at the northern edge of Lafayette Square, close to the junction of 16th Street NW and H Street NW. The park lies directly north of the White House, but the reported collision was not at the presidential residence itself.
The Secret Service said the driver was “combative with law enforcement” before being arrested. Video recorded at the scene by Washington Sun journalist Martin Austermuhle shows smoke coming from the vehicle and officers restraining a person beside it. The original footage was reported by The Washington Sun.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s explosives specialists examined the vehicle as a precaution. NBC4 Washington subsequently reported that the police search had determined the vehicle was safe. Calling in the bomb squad did not, in itself, indicate that explosives had been discovered.
Second person arrested after crossing barricade
At about the same time, a second person crossed a barricade near the northwestern corner of Lafayette Square. The Secret Service said officers also arrested that individual promptly.
NBC4 Washington, citing a source familiar with the investigation, placed this second incident near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The broadcaster’s correspondent stressed that the barrier was not the fence giving access to the White House grounds.
Authorities are investigating both events. Their timing is not evidence that the people involved acted together, and officials have not announced any connection.
White House lockdown lifted
Access restrictions were imposed as officers responded. Journalists inside the White House complex were told to remain in the West Wing briefing room while nearby roads were closed.
The temporary lockdown was subsequently lifted. NBC4 reported that normal operations resumed after approximately 30 minutes. Reuters confirmed that President Trump had been at the White House during the incidents.
What remains unknown?
- The reason the driver went onto the pavement and whether the collision was deliberate.
- The identity of the two people arrested and any charges that may follow.
- Whether investigators will establish a connection between the car incident and the separate barricade breach.
- Whether either incident caused injuries. No confirmed casualty figure had been released in the reporting reviewed.
There has been no verified announcement that either incident was an attempted attack on the president. The Secret Service’s investigation is ongoing, and further conclusions should await evidence.
Video: NBC4 Washington reports from the scene
NBC4 Washington’s Paul Wagner reported live near Lafayette Square as the security response unfolded. Watch the original report on YouTube if the embedded player is unavailable.
Sources
- Reuters, 9 November 2026: Secret Service statement, arrests and temporary lockdown
- NBC4 Washington, 9 November 2026: eyewitness footage, location and vehicle search update
- The Washington Sun, 9 November 2026: original scene footage and eyewitness reporting
- FOX 5 DC, 9 November 2026: Secret Service spokesperson’s account
Reporting reviewed on 9 November 2026. This developing story will be updated if authorities release material new information.
