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Driver's Surrender Ends Standoff Near White House,Threatened Explosion WP [View All]

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diamond14 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 11:51 PM
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Driver's Surrender Ends Standoff Near White House,Threatened Explosion WP
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Driver's Surrender Ends Standoff Near White House
Man Threatened Explosion, Prompting Evacuations

By Del Quentin Wilber and Allan Lengel
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 19, 2005; Page A01

-snips-

A man threatening to blow up his van waged a standoff with authorities a short distance from the White House yesterday, triggering the evacuation of several blocks of downtown on the first day of inaugural activities. Police said that they found homemade "devices" that appeared to be hazardous in the van.

The White House remained open throughout the ordeal, but police swept through office buildings on 15th Street NW, evacuating many of them. An armored vehicle rode up and down 15th, and hazardous materials vehicles, ambulances and other emergency equipment took over the streets. At least three command vehicles were on the scene, which was being monitored by the Department of Homeland Security.

Commuters, already facing a rough week because of the inauguration, were stuck as several critical downtown streets were closed at the beginning of the evening rush hour. Backups extended for miles and dragged on for hours. Those who chose to leave their cars downtown in favor of Metro also got a shock: The platforms were overflowing.

The trouble began about 3:30 p.m. at 15th Street near Pennsylvania Avenue NW -- just off the route that will be used for the inaugural parade. Police said the man drove a van to the Secret Service security shack near the White House and made some demands. He claimed to have 15 gallons of gasoline, along with a triggering device that he said he was holding, they said. Officials were analyzing the liquid last night.

The man, whom police identified last night as Lowell Timmers, 54, of Cedar Springs, Mich., about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18505-2005Jan18.html
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