White House Subjected to ‘Swatting’ Attack During Joe Biden’s Absence in Washington DC

Swatting Incident at the White House – Latest Victim

The Growing Problem of Swatting

The White House fell victim to a disturbing and increasingly prevalent issue in the United States – swatting. This dangerous prank involves falsely reporting emergencies to prompt a large response from law enforcement authorities and first responders. Swatting incidents have been targeting politicians, judges, and other prominent figures.

Emergency Response to the White House

Early in the morning, at 7.03am, Washington DC fire and ambulance crews received an emergency call reporting a fire and a trapped person at the White House. Multiple crews swiftly rushed to the residence to address the alleged incident. However, it was soon discovered that the call was a hoax, traced back to a fake number.

Hoax Revealed and False Alarm

The response teams reached the site promptly, but within 15 minutes, it became apparent that the emergency call was false. The spokesperson for the District of Columbia fire and emergency medical services confirmed that a significant number of personnel had already arrived at the White House when the call was determined to be a prank.

Previous Swatting Incidents

This is not the first swatting incident to occur in recent weeks. Just eight days ago, police responded to a false call of a shooting at the residence of Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing the federal election subversion case against Donald Trump. Another swatting incident targeted Arthur Engoron, the presiding judge in Trump’s civil financial fraud trial in New York.

Targeted Officials

Swatting incidents have also been directed at prominent politicians and officials. Members of Congress, Senator Rick Scott, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, have all been victims of these dangerous pranks.

Attorney General’s Response

Merrick Garland, the Attorney General, expressed deep concern about swatting incidents and described them as deeply disturbing. He emphasized the need to address violent crime and safeguard the fabric of democracy during a private meeting with Justice Department officials.

Return to Normalcy

President Joe Biden, who was not present at the White House during the incident, is expected to return in the afternoon. After spending the weekend at Camp David and attending a Martin Luther King Jr Day commemoration in Philadelphia, Biden will resume his duties as the President of the United States.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

Read More of this Story at www.theguardian.com – 2024-01-15 20:24:00