WASHINGTON — The White House Briefing Room was evacuated Tuesday afternoon in the middle of a press conference in response to a bomb threat, the Secret Service confirmed via email.
“At approximately 1:53 p.m. today, a telephonic bomb threat concerning the White House Briefing Room was called into the Metropolitan Police Department,” a Secret Service statement said. “As a precaution, the White House Press Briefing Room was evacuated.”
According to the statement, no other parts of the White House were affected by the evacuation.
“Sweeps concluded at 2:36, the area was declared safe, all occupants were returned to the White House Press Briefing Room,” the statement continued.
You can view photos from the scene below:
Tourists look on as Secret Service officers checks IDs of individuals attempting to gain access to the cordoned-off area during a June 9 White House Press Briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
A Secret Service Officer checks IDs of individuals trying to gain entry to a cordoned-off area near the White House during a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Capitol police congregate outside of the front entrance of the White House during a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Tourists and members of the press, alike, flocked to the blocked-off areas around the White House with cameras trying to get a glimpse of what was happening during a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
A young tourist looks on as Capitol Police search vehicles at a checkpoint near the White House during a June 9 press briefing evacuation . (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
A Capitol Police officer and his K9 partner examine a vehicle at a White House checkpoint during a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Capitol Police officers search a vehicle at a White House checkpoint during a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Members of the press congregated and conversed while attempting to capture the story behind a June 9 White House press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Secret Service agents stand at the front entrance of the White House during a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Tourists return to the area in front of the White House following a June 9 press briefing evacuation. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
A tourist photographs the White House following the end of a June 9 press briefing evacuation which forced visitors out of public areas outside of the historic building. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
Here is a moment-by-moment rundown of the evacuation, as narrated by reporters who were attending the briefing when the evacuation occurred via social media:
