Thursday, May 5, 2011

Secret Service Tackles Man Who Pulled Gun at President Obama's Motorcade

Days after he ordered the killing of Osama bin Laden, President Obama made a pilgrimage to a NYC firehouse that lost more than a dozen men on 9/11. Later, he made the journey through the streets of NYC to Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center once stood, to lay a wreath and pay his respects to those who died almost a decade ago, but while en route, authorities arrested a man who may have pulled a gun out of a backpack at the president's motorcade.
The man, who wore a blue hat, had dark curly hair and appeared to be in his 20s, was wearing a backpack. New York Police Department officers and Secret Service agents shouted, "Get down, get down," and tackled the man at the corner of Church and Vessey Streets in lower Manhattan. Obama had just left the World Trade Center site and his motorcade was turning from Vessey Street to Church Street when the incident occurred in front of the Church Street Station Post Office. The man was taken into the post office as dozens of officers from various organizations arrived to assist. Two photographers, from the New York Daily News and the Associated Press, snapped photos of the man as he was taken down. They went into the post office with police to show them the photos.
source


UPDATE The man was not armed. According to the AP, the man (who had a yellow bicycle) was yelling "Secret Service, coming through" in order to get through the crowds. Officers believed he was acting suspiciously and emptied his messenger bag, then brought him inside a post office for questioning. At least one officer had a gun drawn. The man was questioned and released. via

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