White House under lockdown after suspicious package found, US Secret Service detains one person

A suspicious package near the White House grounds has put the building on lockdown, reports say.

Secret Service hasdetained a man with a package outside the White House, anofficial told AFP.

The US Secret Service detained a male suspect carrying a package and making "suspicious comments" near the White House, newswire AFP reported.

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According to an official, he was taken into custody and explosives experts were deployed.

A Secret Service official said the man had approached uniformed officers near 15th and Pennsylvania at around 10:15 am, a block from the White House.

The man was separated from the package and detained in a police vehicle, a security perimeter was established and "the package is now in Secret Service custody," the official said, asking not to be named, AFP said.

A Secret Service spokeswoman had earlier said, "We separated the individual and the package. He is now in Secret Service custody."

The unidentified man was taken into custody and explosive disposal teams were on the scene, Secret Service spokeswoman Cathy Milhoan told reporters in the White House briefing room.

According to reports, the package was found near the White Houseand the north lawn was immediatelyclosed. Roads around the White House were also closed.

The US Secret Service in a tweet said it was investigating the incident.

According to reports, the package was found near the White House and the north lawn has been closed. Roads around the White House have also been closed (WION)

(WION with Agency inputs)