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A box truck barreled into an area near the White House Monday night in what the Secret Service said may have been an intentional act.
The truck crashed into barriers on the northside of Lafayette Square — about a block from the White House — shortly before 10 p.m., according to chief of communications for the Secret Service Anthony Guglielmi.
“Preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” he said.
The driver was arrested and is expected to face charges filed by the US Park Police, Guglielmi added.
No injuries to Secret Service or White House personnel were reported.
Photos from the scene showed a U-Haul truck behind police tape with what appeared to be a Nazi flag and other objects on the ground next to it as investigators searched the vehicle. More information about the flag was not immediately available, but video taken by a photojournalist at Lafayette Square showed an officer picking it up and holding it along with an evidence bag.
A Washington Fire Department spokesperson said a call came in around 9:40 p.m. for what was described as a suspicious package investigation involving the truck.
Guglielmi later said the truck was deemed safe by DC Metro Police.
The crash led to the evacuation of at least one hotel, the Hay Adams, a hotel worker confirmed around 10:30 p.m. to The Post.
Part of the area around the scene was blocked off to vehicular and pedestrian traffic as police investigated.
The Secret Service said “the cause and manner of the crash” were under investigation.
With Post wires
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