Late Monday night, a man was arrested outside the White House after attempting to crash through security barriers. He is facing charges which include threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict harm on a president, vice president or family member say the United States Park Police. Authorities have identified the man as 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula of Chesterfield, Missouri. Kandula is also facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, destruction of federal property and trespassing.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement:
“Shortly before 10:00 p.m. Monday, Secret Service Uniformed Division officers detained the driver of a box truck after the vehicle collided with security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square at 16th Street.”
Footage taken shortly after the crash also show a Nazi flag on the ground outside the U-Haul which was removed from the truck.
According to CNN:
After the crash, the truck was searched by bomb technicians and no explosives or incendiary devices were found, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN.
Video from CNN affiliate WUSA shows a Park Police officer taking inventory of the U-Haul truck, packing up several pieces of evidence. Among the items that appear to be from the truck are a flag of what appears to be a swastika, a black backpack and a roll of duct tape.
The incident prompted road closures as authorities investigated the crash, and the nearby Hay-Adams hotel was evacuated at the request of the Secret Service, a hotel employee told CNN. The hotel guests and employees were allowed back in when police deemed it safe a short time later.
The FBI’s National Capital Response Squad is assisting Park Police and the Secret Service in the investigation.
President Biden was in Washington D.C. on Monday after returning from a trip to Japan.
This is a developing story.
