A man who was detained for sneaking into the White House earlier this month reportedly managed to go farther into the presidential residence than previously believed.
According to the BBC, Omar Gonazalez, 42, made it to the East Room in the highly guarded home on 19 September, unidentified officials told multiple news outlets.
The East Room is used for many functions, out of which, some are hosted by the President himself.
Gonzalez of Copperas Cove, Texas, was carrying a three and a half inch Spyderco VG-10 black serrated folding knife in his front pants pocket when he was arrested.
After he was detained, Gonzalez told a Secret Service agent “he was concerned that the atmosphere was collapsing and need to get the information to the President of the United States so that he could get the word out to people.”
The incident took place right after US President Barack Obama along with his daughters and a guest left on a Marine One to Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland where Obama and his family were to spend the weekend, the report said.
Following the incident, security has been being beefed up at the White House.
—ANI