Tag Archives: White House Briefing Room

Security threat interrupts White House press briefing (video)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Secret Service evacuated the White House Briefing Room Tuesday afternoon after a bomb threat was called in to Washington police.

Security threat interrupts White House press briefing from Medill Washington on Vimeo.

The evacuation came in the middle of a televised press briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest. The North Lawn of the White House was also cleared.

PHOTOS, STORIFY: Bomb threat sparks evacuation of White House press briefing 

Secret Service officials said the threat was called in at 1:53 p.m. About 30 minutes after the call journalists were allowed back into the White House. Secret Service officers on the scene said an all-clear had been issued.

“As a precaution, the White House Briefing Room was evacuated,” Secret Service spokeswoman Nicole B. Mainor said in a statement. “The evacuation was limited to the White House Press Briefing Room and did not affect any other sections of the White House.”

Shortly after the evacuation Earnest wrote on Twitter that the briefing would resume shortly after the room was cleared. “Hopefully won’t be long,” he wrote.

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Bomb threat sparks evacuation of White House press briefing

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)
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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:

VIDEO: Security threat interrupts White House press briefing

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