How A Yoga Mat Put The White House On Lockdown

WASHINGTON, DC — The North Lawn of the White House was evacuated Monday morning, and the Secret Service went into high alert. Why? Because someone had thrown a yoga mat over the fence.

CNBC reporter Eamon Javers tweeted shortly after 10 a.m. that the Secret Service had ordered the lawn cleared due to an unknown "security situation," a report the Secret Service confirmed at 10:23 a.m., tweeting that it was responding to an "incident at the north fence line."

But it wasn't a suspicious package or a fence jumper. Instead, it was an airborne yoga mat and a sign.

"Secret Service agent with TV pool says the White House lockdown was caused by someone who threw a sign and yoga mat over the fence," tweeted NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander.

The Secret Service has two people in custody, but Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Park remain closed.

Although it appears that this security situation will be quickly resolved, we'll update this post with any further details.

Uniformed Division responding to an incident at the north fence line, along Penn. Ave. Area is closed to pedestrian traffic.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) September 11, 2017

Another security situation of some kind at the WH right now. Secret Service has cleared North Lawn. Given the date, all paying attention.
— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) September 11, 2017

NEW: Secret Service agent with TV pool says the White House lockdown was caused by someone who threw a sign and yoga mat over the fence.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) September 11, 2017

Image via U.S. Government