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white house down

Man jumps White House fence and makes it through the doors before being caught

US President Barack Obama was not in the building at the time.

THE WHITE HOUSE was evacuated last night after a man jumped a fence and made it through the doors of the building before being apprehended.

The incident happened at around 7.30pm local time (11.30pm GMT) last night, just minutes after US President Barack Obama had left the White House by helicopter with his family.

Obama Secret Service police officers give instructions as they evacuate the White House AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

It was a rare security breach at the White House, which is one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the world. Associated Press reports that it is unclear whether a fence-jumper has ever made it into the White House before.

The 42-year-old man from Texas, named as Omar Gonzalez, made it through the North Portico doors of the presidential residence before being caught by Secret Service agents.

White House Fence Jumper A Secret Service officer holds a gun near an entrance to the White House during the evacuation last night. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

“It appeared to responding officers that he was unarmed, which turned out to be true,” Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said.

“Gonzalez ignored the commands of those officers to stop and ultimately was apprehended by officers just inside the North Portico doors of the White House”.

Obama A Secret Service agent gives directions during the evacuation. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Gonzalez was brought to a nearby hospital to be examined after he complained of chest pain. He has been charged with unlawful entry.

White House staff and journalists were rushed out of the building by Secret Service agents immediately after the security breach.

“This situation was a little different than other incidents we have at the White House,” said Ed Donovan, another Secret Service spokesman. “There will be a thorough investigation into the incident”.

Read: Man with Pikachu hat and teddy arrested after hopping White House fence > 

Read: Little boy gets bored in the White House, performs amazing faceplant > 

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