Man arrested for attempting to kill Biden by crashing car near White House

US police arrested a man who rammed his car into a Nazi flag near the White House, and charged him with attempting to kill President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

US Park Police said the driver appeared to have deliberately crashed into the barriers outside Lafayette Park just before 10:00 pm (0200 GMT) on Monday, adding that no one was hurt.

Television footage showed a red and black swastika sign found during a police search of the truck.

White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation on Tuesday morning.

“He is relieved that no one was injured last night and is grateful to the agents and law enforcement officers who responded so quickly,” she told reporters.

Park Police said in a statement on Tuesday that the vehicle’s driver has been identified as Sai Varshith Kandola, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri.

It said he was charged with “assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, threat to kill, kidnapping, harm to the president, vice president, or family member, destruction of federal property, and trespassing.”

A local Fox News affiliate reported that some guests at a nearby hotel said they were told to evacuate after the incident.

A station journalist posted a video from the scene showing a robot searching the truck’s cargo area.