White House is evacuated after ‘hazardous material’ found, here’s what we know

The grounds of the White House were evacuated on Sunday due to the discovery of an “unknown item” by the United States Secret Service (USSS).

A USSS spokesman said officers from its uniformed division had found the unidentified object on the White House complex.

“Officers of the US Secret Service Uniform Division located an unknown item on the White House complex,” a USSS spokesman said.

“As a precaution, the White House grounds were evacuated and the DC Fire Department’s hazmat team responded,” the spokesperson added.

The area near 18th St and Pennsylvania Ave was cordoned off by Secret Service units, and the USSS did not provide additional details about the nature of the item.

A freelance journalist in the DC area, Andrew Leydon, covered the horrific incident.

Vehicles have come down from Executive West pic.twitter.com/ZvFTERp5NK

— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) July 3, 2023

Leydon then reported that the substance tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride, which is a powerful controlled substance.

DC Fire Hazmat reports that they have found a substance that tests positive for cocaine hydrochloride near the White House, which is a local anesthetic. Audio from @OpenMHz https://t.co/poI9vabqM7

— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) July 3, 2023

Cocaine hydrochloride comes in three different forms of the drug: cocaine hydrochloride, free base cocaine, and crack cocaine.

Here is the radio call:

BREAKING: Cocaine hydrochloride detected near West Executive Wing pic.twitter.com/cJLr2rnEDU

— The Triune Times (@TriuneTimes) July 3, 2023

The Secret Service was still investigating the hazmat incident Sunday evening.

🚨#BREAKING: The Secret Service is investigating a hazmat incident at the White House
⁰📌#Washington | #DC

There is currently an ongoing hazmat incident at the White House in Washington DC, the US Secret Service, along with emergency personnel, are investigating the… pic.twitter.com/sRuktZwsOg

— RAWSALERTS (@rawsalerts) July 3, 2023

The spokesman later confirmed that all road closures had been lifted.

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