A man who tried to set himself on fire outside the White House on April 12 has been arrested.
The Secret Service said the suspect, who has not been identified, was operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter when he lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave, outside the North Fence Line. Uniformed Division Officers then respondedimmediately, extinguishing the fire and providing first aid.
UPDATE: 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. Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
In a follow-up tweet, the agencies said, “the male subject has been transported to a local hospital with what appears to be non-life threatening injuries.”
Earlier they tweeted that they were responding to a police or medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave.
ALERT: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
UPDATE: Pennsylvania Ave. is closed to pedestrian traffic, 17th street between H and G is closed to vehicular traffic.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
The Fire Department also responded to the scene to provide first aid, reported Washington Examiner.
Eyewitness videos posted by White House correspondent Mark Irons of EWTN Global Catholic Network, show authorities clearing the park outside the White House and agents apprehending the suspect.
HAPPENING NOW: @SecretService just apprehended man who tried to set himself on fire outside @WhiteHouse agent tells us pic.twitter.com/GvPYEZ8Cnm
— Mark Irons (@MarkIronsMedia) April 12, 2019
Initial video: Right after incident occurred, @SecretService surrounded man, and continued clearing out park in front of @WhiteHouse. pic.twitter.com/bqCHUbaQS3
— Mark Irons (@MarkIronsMedia) April 12, 2019
Washington Examiner reporter Steven Nelson said on Twitter that “reporters were just sternly ordered away from Pennsylvania Ave. fence, including out of TV tents” in response to the incident.
White House reporters were just sternly ordered away from Pennsylvania Ave. fence, including out of TV tents
There’s a major incident response here now. Talk is someone set themselves on fire, but I did not see it pic.twitter.com/YOdMAeZ6ei
— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) April 12, 2019
White House reporters now are being shooed back inside the West Wing, though some are being escorted out southern exit pic.twitter.com/prt5FfraQr
— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) April 12, 2019
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
