The incident has sparked a significant police response.

11:52, Wed, Mar 11, 2026 Updated: 12:53, Wed, Mar 11, 2026

A vehicle has crashed into a gate at the White House, prompting police to swarm the surrounding areas and arrest the driver.

A van drove through a security barricade near the White House on Wednesday morning, a U.S. media reports said quoting the Metropolitan Police Department. The driver was apprehended, local reports also said.

It happened at around 6:37 am (local time), when officers responded to assist the United States Secret Service (USSS) after the van drove through the barricade at Connecticut Avenue and H Street, Northwest. Several streets nearby have been closed and police are investigating. There are no reports of injuries.

Van crashes through White House barricade

Van crashes through White House barricade, driver detained (Image: ABC 7 News WJLA/Youtube)

Police outside White House.

A photo from the scene near the White House. (Image: ABC 7 News WJLA/YouTube)

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Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson for the USSS, told CBS News officers were "looking into a suspicious vehicle".

"Various entrances and the streets are temporarily closed as teams conduct their work," Guglielmi also said, adding that "additional information" will be provided at a later stage. There are reports of heavy police presence at the scene. There's a police cordon in place, and sreets north of the White House were shut down. Police cars, Secret Service officers, Metropolitan police officers and National Guard Members are currently at the scene.