A van breached a security barricade near the White House, prompting a major lockdown and traffic chaos in downtown Washington during rush hour.

WASHINGTON: A van smashed through a security barricade near the White House early Wednesday, forcing a major shutdown of the area during morning rush hour.

The driver was taken into custody following the pre-dawn incident at Lafayette Square, just north of the presidential residence.

There were no reported injuries from the security breach.

The Secret Service, which handles presidential security, said it was “looking into a suspicious vehicle.”

“The driver of the car has been detained and is being questioned,” the agency added in a statement.

Police closed off several major streets around the White House, halting government employees and city workers from getting to their offices.

Traffic congestion snarled the area as a result of the security response.

Dozens of emergency vehicles with flashing lights were on the scene as tourists and residents waited for streets to reopen.

Washington has been under heightened security amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

 The Sun Malaysia