A man in a motorized wheelchair set himself on fire just outside the White House on Friday, prompting a lockdown of the building’s north grounds and a partial shutdown of Pennsylvania Avenue.
The U.S. Secret Service tweeted an alert Friday afternoon that personnel were actively responding to “a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.”
In following tweets, it was revealed that “[a] male subject operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave. outside the North Fence Line.”
Secret Service indicated that “Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid.”
According to the most recent update, the male subject has been transported to a local hospital and has non-life threatening emergencies.
CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller tweeted a photo showing Secret Service officers carrying “an individual away from the WH and placing him on the ground in Lafayette Park” as well as a photo showing the officers tending to the male subject.
EWTN White House Correspondent Mark Irons tweeted video of Secret Service officers carrying the man after apprehending him.
Details as to the man's identity and motive have not yet been released at this time.
The incident prompted a large Secret Service response and closures on Pennsylvania Ave. and 17th Street.
According to Fox News, "Secret Service agents reportedly cleared the North Lawn, and were canvassing the area for any additional devices that might have been brought to the area. Officials also shut down Pennsylvania Avenue to pedestrian traffic, while additional nearby streets were closed to vehicles."
This story is developing. Stay tuned to MRCTV for updates.