The White House grounds were evacuated on Sunday due to the discovery of an “unknown item” by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS).
A spokesperson for the USSS said that their Uniform Division Officers had found the unidentified object on the White House complex.
“U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division Officers located an unknown item on the White House complex,” a USSS spokesperson said.
“As a precaution, the White House grounds were evacuated, and the DC Fire Departments Hazmat team responded,” the spokesperson added.
The area near 18th St and Pennsylvania Ave was cordoned off by Secret Service units, and additional details regarding the nature of the item were not provided by the USSS.
A freelance journalist in the D.C. area, Andrew Leydon, covered the harrowing incident.
Vehicles have gone down West Executive pic.twitter.com/ZvFTERp5NK
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) July 3, 2023
Leydon then reported that the substance tested positive for Cocaine Hydrochloride, which is a potent controlled substance.
DC Fire Hazmat reports they have found a substance that tests positive for Cocaine Hydrochloride near the White House, which is a local anesthetic. Audio from @OpenMHz https://t.co/poI9vabqM7
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) July 3, 2023
Cocaine hydrochloride comes in three different forms of the drug: cocaine hydrochloride, freebase cocaine, and crack cocaine.
Here is the radio call:
BREAKING: Cocaine Hydrochloride spotted near West Executive Wing pic.twitter.com/cJLr2rnEDU
— The Triune Times (@TriuneTimes) July 3, 2023
The Secret Service were still investigating the hazmat incident on Sunday evening.
🚨#BREAKING: The Secret Service are investigating a hazmat incident at the White House
⁰📌#Washington | #DCCurrently, there is an ongoing hazmat incident at the White House in Washington DC the US Secret Service, along with emergency personnel, are investigating the… pic.twitter.com/sRuktZwsOg
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 3, 2023
The spokesperson later confirmed that all road closures were lifted.
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Source: Becker News Rephrased By: InfoArmed