A man tried to immolate himself by the fire in front of the White House

A man tried Friday to burn himself in the White House, but secret service agents, the body responsible for protecting the president and his family, prevented him from doing so, reported official sources.

The events took place at 2:45 pm (ET), on the outside of the fence that surrounds the presidential residence in the north area of ​​the gardens, next to Pennsylvania Avenue.

"The person was transferred to a local hospital with injuries that do not seem to put his life at risk," said the Secret Service in a message posted on social media a few minutes after the incident.

According to the authorities, the suspect was moving in an electric wheelchair when, suddenly, he "took his jacket on fire".

"The agents of the Uniform Division – secret services – acted immediately, put out the fire and gave him first aid," the message added.

Due to the incident, the authorities reduced traffic on a nearby street, the White House closed and for a few minutes no one was able to enter or leave the premises.

Several similar incidents in recent years, involving people who broke through the barrier protecting the White House, have resulted in a gradual increase in security in the perimeter of the presidential residence.

In February, a woman crushed herself against a security fence protecting the building, forcing the temporary closure of the complex that houses the presidential residence.

The event took place minutes after President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered a joint press conference at the same White House.

Just a month later, A man lost his life after being killed in front of the White House for unknown reasons.