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A Secret Service vehicle caught on fire near the White House on Monday morning
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The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, according to the agency
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The car was stationed near the White House, where President Donald Trump was preparing to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
A Secret Service vehicle caught on fire around the corner from the White House on Monday, Sept. 29, shortly before President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the West Wing, authorities said.
The U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division vehicle caught on fire at the intersection of 18th St. NW and Pennsylvania Avenue shortly before 10 a.m. local time, a Secret Service spokesperson confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.
“After an investigation by the Office of the DC Fire Marshall, it was determined that the fire was caused by an electrical issue,” according to the statement.
“We are grateful that no personnel were injured and we appreciate the response from DC Fire and EMS, who assisted in extinguishing the fire. There were no impacts to our protective operations.”
Black plumes of smoke could be seen coming out of the SUV, according to eyewitness accounts and images from the scene posted on social media.
The incident came on an important day for the law enforcement agency, as Trump holds his fourth meeting this year with Netanyahu to discuss plans for ending the war in Gaza. The meetings on U.S. soil are controversial — the International Criminal Court currently has a warrant out for Netanyahu’s arrest, which Trump is declining to enforce.
Trump and Netanyahu are set to hold a joint press conference at 1:15 p.m. local time.
Netanyahu was the first world leader to visit Trump at the White House after the U.S. president began his second term on Jan. 20.
According to The New York Times, the leaders will be discussing specific proposals for governing Gaza after the war ends.
Read the original article on People
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