White House lockdown lifted after clearance of suspicious package

The White House was placed on a security lockdown for some hours after a suspicious packet was found.

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States Donald Trump.

The White House later started functioning after the U.S. Secret Service officials cleared the suspicious package, which was found near Madison & Penn. Ave.

The White House was cordoned off as authorities investigated the situation and this is the second incident that the White House has been lockdown in two days - after a male suspect was arrested for throwing items - believed to be a sign and a notebook - over a fence at the northern end of the White House.

The Secret service later tweeted that the suspicious package had been cleared, with White House activity returning.

The U.S. SEcret Service tweeted, "Suspicious package has been cleared, @WhiteHouse activity returned to normal. Traffic to return to normal shortly."

Earlier, the U.S. Secret Service had tweeted: "Uniformed Division Officers responding to a suspicious package near Madison & Penn. Ave. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic may be impacted."

The daily press briefing from the White House was pushed back by 30 minutes until 2.30pm local time, thanks to the lockdown, the Independent reports.