J3N Provides the Latest and Most Up-to-Date News, You Can Stay Informed and Connected to the World.
⎯ 《 Just 3 N : New News Now 》
A U-haul truck, a Nazi flag and threats to kill the president: What we know about the White House crash
A U-haul truck, a Nazi flag and threats to kill the president: What we know about the White House crash
It was a balmy, spring night in Washington DC when a U-haul truck suddenly slammed into security gates close to the White House. The driver, who was allegedly carrying a Nazi flag, then made threatening statements about the building that President Joe Biden calls home. Now, the male suspect has been arrested on charges of threatening to kill or harm the president, Vice President Kamala Harris or one of their family members. The details so far remain scant, with the identity of the driver, his alleged motive and plans still unclear. But, what we do know about the incident will no doubt be setting off alarm bells around Capitol Hill – coming at a time when lawmakers and government officials have faced growing threats and just two years after Donald Trump supporters succeeding in storming the US Capitol in the January 6 riot. Here’s what we know so far about Monday’s incident. What happened? The incident unfolded just before 10pm ET on Monday night when the white U-Haul box truck crashed into the security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square on 16th Street, Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service chief of communications, said in a statement on Monday night. The crash took place just a few hundred feet away from the White House, where Mr Biden had been holding talks with Senate Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy just hours earlier. Video, posted by eyewitness Chris Zaboji, appears to show the truck driving into the barricades once and then driving into them a second time. Mr Zaboji, an airline pilot living in Washington, said he was walking home after jogging on the national mall when he heard a loud crash. He pulled out his phone to capture what was going on. “I looked back and saw that the U-Haul van had rammed into the barricade. I backed away behind a guy on a golf cart and took the video on my phone,” he told Reuters. “After I saw it rammed again I didn’t want to be anywhere near the truck and left.” Nazi paraphernalia and threats A police source told NBC News that the driver made threatening statements about the White House at the scene but was quickly detained by law enforcement. Inside the truck, police also found a Nazi flag. The flag was seen in photos captured by a Reuters photojournalist on the ground next to the truck. Following a search of the truck, officials found it contained no weapons or explosives. There were no injuries in the crash and there is no ongoing danger to the public, officials said. “There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation,” said Mr Guglielmi. The suspect The identity of the suspect has not been released by authorities and the motive remains unknown at this time. However, on Tuesday morning, US Park Police spokesman Thomas Twiname said that the male suspect had been arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on the president, vice president or a family member. Mr Guglielmi said on Monday night that the preliminary investigation indicated that the driver had “intentionally” collided with the security barriers. Threats against officials It is not clear if the president and first lady were home at the time of the incident which comes amid a rise of potential threats against politicians. Data from the Capitol Police revealed that the agency had investigated about 7,500 cases of potential threats against members of Congress in 2022. While lower than the 9,600 threats recorded in 2021, it was twice as many as in 2017. In October, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center and the US Capitol Police sent a joint intelligence bulletin to law enforcement partners across the country warning that a rise in domestic violent extremism (DVE) and “perceptions” of election fraud could lead to a spike in violence. Among the most “attractive targets” to extremists are lawmakers, government officials and personnel involved in elections including both political candidates and election workers, it warned. “Potential targets of DVE violence include candidates running for public office, elected officials, election workers, political rallies, political party representatives, racial and religious minorities, or perceived ideological opponents,” the bulletin read. That same day – 28 October 2022 – the husband of then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi husband was the victim of a violent hammer attack at the couple’s home in California. David DePape, a 42-year-old hemp jewellery maker, allegedly broke into the couple’s San Francisco home in the early hours of the morning searching for Ms Pelosi. Ms Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi, 82, was home alone, with his wife away in Washington DC at the time. Mr Pelosi managed to call 911 but the suspect allegedly struck him over the head with a hammer when officers arrived. This came over one year after the January 6 Capitol riot on 6 January 2021 when a mob of Mr Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol – fuelled by his lies that the presidential election was “stolen” from him – to try to overturn Joe Biden’s win. Chilling footage from that day reveals how some of the rioters hunted for Ms Pelosi, chanting “Where’s Nancy?” as they ransacked her office. Others were seen chanting “Hang Mike Pence” after the vice president refused to attempt to overthrow the election in Mr Trump’s favour. Read More Nazi flag recovered from scene after U-haul truck ‘intentionally’ slams into railings near White House
2023-05-23 21:21
Worry, relief, despair, pride: Afghans on life two years under the Taliban
Worry, relief, despair, pride: Afghans on life two years under the Taliban
Two years since the Taliban stormed back to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of war against the United States and its allies, life has changed...
2023-08-14 12:24
Navajo sheep herding at risk from climate change. Some young people push to maintain the tradition
Navajo sheep herding at risk from climate change. Some young people push to maintain the tradition
Raising sheep is a way of life for many people in Navajo Nation, but a host of factors threaten that livelihood
2023-10-30 21:59
Black people in the US had a higher risk of death in 2020 compared to their White counterparts, study finds
Black people in the US had a higher risk of death in 2020 compared to their White counterparts, study finds
Excess deaths among Black people jumped in 2020, reversing years of progress in reducing the gap in mortality compared with White people, a new study found.
2023-05-17 17:26
Maldives election: Pro-China candidate Muizzu wins presidency
Maldives election: Pro-China candidate Muizzu wins presidency
Mohamed Muizzu ran an "India out" campaign as the current leader favours good relations with Delhi.
2023-10-01 05:17
Who were Christina White and Jennifer Hammond? Charlotte Sena’s alleged kidnapper investigated for unsolved murders of 2 teens
Who were Christina White and Jennifer Hammond? Charlotte Sena’s alleged kidnapper investigated for unsolved murders of 2 teens
Jennifer Hammond and Christina White's cases are said to be linked and are under investigation ever since they vanished in 2003 and 2005
2023-10-07 01:49
Biparjoy: India state on alert over 'extremely severe' cyclone
Biparjoy: India state on alert over 'extremely severe' cyclone
Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to hit parts of India's Gujarat state on 15 June, the weather office has said.
2023-06-12 13:24
London exhibition spotlights migrant business owners
London exhibition spotlights migrant business owners
From the co-founder of retail giant Marks & Spencer to the owners of a family-run Chinese takeaway, a new exhibition is showcasing migrant entrepreneurs and the role...
2023-07-17 14:29
US commerce secretary doesn't expect changes to Trump China tariffs until review complete
US commerce secretary doesn't expect changes to Trump China tariffs until review complete
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Tuesday she does not expect any revisions
2023-09-06 07:49
7 takeaways from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida elections
7 takeaways from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida elections
Republicans have their candidate in Kentucky, Democrats have their majority in Pennsylvania and the 2024 GOP presidential primary has another clash between former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the books.
2023-05-17 12:56
Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rescuers race to save 40 workers trapped in India tunnel
Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rescuers race to save 40 workers trapped in India tunnel
Officials have established contact with the trapped men and are providing them food, water and oxygen.
2023-11-14 13:28
JetBlue is dumping its partnership with American Airlines to salvage its purchase of Spirit
JetBlue is dumping its partnership with American Airlines to salvage its purchase of Spirit
JetBlue is picking Spirt Airlines over American
2023-07-06 04:53