23 Sep 2014

White House intruder 'heavily armed'

4:10 pm on 23 September 2014

Prosecutors in the United States say a man who broke into the grounds of the White House had 800 rounds of ammunition as well as weapons in his car.

A member of the Secret Service's  uniformed division patrols outside the White House.

A member of the Secret Service's uniformed division patrols outside the White House. Photo: AFP

Omar Gonzalez, a decorated veteran of the Iraq war, was carrying a small knife when he entered the White House last Friday and has now been charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building carrying a deadly weapon.

It is not the first time Mr Gonzalez has approached the White House in Washington armed. Last month, he was stopped after walking past the building with a hatchet.

In July, he was arrested in the neighbouring state of Virginia with a number of guns and a map marking the presidential residence.

President Barack Obama was not at home when Mr Gonzalez broke into the grounds on Friday.

His intrusion has prompted a review of the US Secret Service, who are tasked with guarding the First Family.

Assistant US Attorney David Mudd told a court hearing on Monday that the 42-year-old was a danger to the president, and a judge agree to hold him in jail until a hearing next month.

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