Bomb scare in front of White House, security shuts gates

There was pandemonium at the entrance of the White House this morning when The U.S. Secret Service cleared Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the capital building and closed one of its gates for more than an hour after a bomb-sniffing dog alerted them to a car in a nearby garage.

An all clear was however given indicating there was no danger posed.

Pedestrians had earlier been told by the Secret Service and U.S. Park Police that the area was closed.

Reuters reported that the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue, which is open only to pedestrian traffic and official vehicles on the White House block, came after a bomb-sniffing dog alerted officers to a car parked in the garage of the nearby New Executive Office Building, a Secret Service spokesman said.