Police investigators pulled an apparent Nazi flag from a U-Haul truck Monday night that had crashed into a barrier near the White House. Eyewitnesses say the truck hit a guardrail twice before coming to a stop. The incident occurred on the north side of Lafayette Park at 16th and H St, NW. Police placed the flag on the sidewalk near the truck, apparently for the media to film, before folding it up and taking it away.
The driver was apprehended by Secret Service agents. No injuries were reported. Several nearby buildings, including two hotels – the Hay Adams and Sofitel – were evacuated as a precaution. A robot was sent to inspect the truck for explosives.
A photo of the flag was posted by WUSA-TV reporter Troy Pope.
NEW: Investigators extracted what appears to be a Nazi flag from the U-Haul, but they have not provided further details.
Here’s what we know: https://t.co/cXt81Ji2NA pic.twitter.com/jBsb1uPJA3
— Troy Pope (@troycpope) May 23, 2023
Video:
There was a flag outside the truck – you can see it lying on the ground
This is truck police say a man crashed into the fencing outside the door #White House @ wusa9 pic.twitter.com/4H9iXdzs7d
— 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚 𝙇𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙤 (@KatieLusso) May 23, 2023
Video by freelancer Nathan Howard shows the flag being folded and taken away by police after being laid out for the media to film.
What appears to be a Nazi flag was just pulled from the cab of a U Haul truck that rammed the fence in Lafayette Square in front of the White House.
For @Reuters pic.twitter.com/bOH8NuROG3
— Nathan Howard (@SmileItsNathan) May 23, 2023
NEW VIDEO: Chris says he was walking home from his mall run when he witnessed a truck driver ram the barricade in Lafayette Park near the White House for the second time.
“I decided it was time to get out of there,” he says📹: @itszaboji
Stay with @fox5dc #break #dc pic.twitter.com/hE3JoRCFV5— angie goff (@OhMyGOFF) May 23, 2023
I took this picture of the White House and immediately heard a clap behind me.
Thought someone had accidentally crashed until the U-Haul backed up and tried to break through the barriers again.
Shoutout to the Secret Service Police for their quick response and action! pic.twitter.com/qIq3PbBJFj
— Benjamin Berger (@BenB005) May 23, 2023
BREAKING: Right now, the Secret Service is using a robot to search the U-HAUL truck that crashed into security barriers in Lafayette Square near the White House. @fox5dc @Fox news pic.twitter.com/QvhpOyM44V
— Shomari stone (@shomaristone) May 23, 2023
This is reported by WUSA a statement from the Secret Service:
“Shortly before 10 p.m. Monday, officers from the Secret Service’s Uniformed Division detained the driver of a box truck after the vehicle collided with security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square at 16th Street. There were no injuries to Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash are still under investigation. Road closures are in effect and footpaths have been closed during our investigation.”
WTTG-TV reporter Shomari Stone covered the crime scene. The Secret Service closed down two blocks from the incident:
#BREAK: According to the @Secret Servicethe driver of a U-Haul is trapped after the truck crashes into security barriers at the White House. @shomaristone was the FIRST on site with a LIVE report.
DETAILS HERE ➖ https://t.co/OlDdHgALCs pic.twitter.com/jK4Sdq17CA
— Sierra Fox (@thesierrafox) May 23, 2023
WRC-TV reported that the Secret Service was investigating a “suspicious package” in Lafayette Square.
BREAKING: Authorities are investigating a suspicious package after a U-Haul truck crashed into a barrier at the White House Monday night. https://t.co/fFhJZnM1S4
— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) May 23, 2023
Just before midnight it was declared ‘all clear’.
UPDATE: EVERYTHING CLEARLY GIVEN: @DCPoliceDept EOD, @Secret Service And @dcfireems have determined that the vehicle is safe. A robot unit was used during this research.
— DC REALTIME NEWS (@RealTimeNews10) May 23, 2023
Strange coincidence a week after Joe Biden tried to stir up racial division by telling Howard University graduating black students that white supremacy was “the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland,” the same day the alleged FBI opgroup Patriot Front, known for marched U-Haul trucks in DC