White House briefly locked down after firecracker scare (VIDEO)
A US flag flies at half-staff above the White House on December 15, 2012 in Washington, DC.
A man was taken into custody outside the White House in Washington DC on Monday, after he allegedly threw fireworks over the north fence of the presidential residence.
The Secret Service identified the culprit as 52-year-old Alexander Sahaghan, according to ABC News, although no charges have been filed yet. He will likely be charged with throwing a projectile.
After the 6:30 p.m. incident — which some mistook for gun shots, due to the popping sounds — the area in front of the White House was briefly sealed off as authorities investigated.
Police shut down two blocks of 17th Street NW in the city, Politico reported, as well as a block of Pennsylvania Avenue on the northwest side of the White House.
The temporary White House lockdown occurred during the same day as a shooting at the US Navy Yard in DC, where 13 people lost their lives. The Senate was also locked down on Monday as a cautionary precuation.
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