The White House Exterior - H 2014
AP ImagesThe White House was in lockdown Thursday afternoon because of an “unattended package” near the North Lawn fence, according to reporters who were on the scene.
Those reporters had been told to stay in the press area while the Secret Service conducted its investigation, and the media used Twitter to get the news out.
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ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl and ABC News chief business and economic correspondent Rebecca Jarvis were among those tweeting the news.
BREAKING: White House in lockdown. Reporters are being told to stay in the press area.
— Rebecca Jarvis (@RebeccaJarvis) July 17, 2014
White House on lock down due to “unattended package” by the fence line of the North Lawn h/t @jonkarl
— Rebecca Jarvis (@RebeccaJarvis) July 17, 2014
The WH is on lock-down. Why? Secret Service says there’s an “unattended package on the north lawn fence line”
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) July 17, 2014
Meanwhile, NBC News is reporting that Lafayette Park, located across the from the White House, also was cleared.
The lockdown was put in place around 4 p.m. EDT, and the all-clear was given around 20 minutes later, according to a tweet sent out by CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.
Security lockdown at WH over. All clear given.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 17, 2014
