(MENAFN- QNA) Questions are being raised in the US Congress and in the public about the failures of the US Secret Service to stop a man carrying a concealed knife from climbing over a fence and entering the White House through an unlocked door in search of President Obama.
Omar Gonzalez, a 42-year old US army veteran of the Iraq war, had been arrested in July carrying a weapons arsenal and was stopped at the White House last month carrying an ax but was let go in both incidents.
On Friday night at 7:30 pm local time, he hopped over a wrought iron fence, and in full view of White House security, walked through the door of the building where every American president has lived since 1800. Obama and his family had left just minutes before for Camp David, the presidential retreat.
Because he did not appear armed, security personnel said they did not fire their weapons at Gonzalez. He was arrested inside the White House.
"Although the officers showed tremendous restraint and discipline in dealing with this subject, the location of Gonzalez's arrest is not acceptable," the Secret Service, charged with protecting the president, said in a statement.
Though Gonzalez only had a knife at the time of his arrest, prosecutors say he had 800 rounds of ammunition and a machete in his car. Security also stopped him outside the White House last month while he was carrying a hatchet, but he was let go, (The New York Times) reported.
Virginia State Police said Monday they had apprehended him in July in possession of several automatic weapons, a sniper rifle and a "map of Washington, D.C., with writing and a line drawn to the White House." It was not clear why he was released.
Gonzalez appeared to be deranged, telling police he wanted to see Obama to tell him "the atmosphere is falling."(MORE)
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