Thursday, May 5, 2011

Witnesses say man may have pulled gun as Obama motorcade passed near Ground Zero

NEW YORK — Authorities apprehended a man who witnesses say may have pulled a gun out of a backpack as President Barack Obama's motorcade passed today in New York.

The man, who wore a blue hat, had dark curly hair and appeared to be in his 20s, was wearing a backpack. New York Police Department officers and Secret Service agents shouted, "Get down, get down," and tackled the man at the corner of Church and Vessey Streets in lower Manhattan.

Obama had just left the World Trade Center site and his motorcade was turning from Vessey Street to Church Street when the incident occurred in front of the Church Street Station Post Office.
The man was taken into the post office as dozens of officers from various organizations arrived to assist.

Two photographers, from the New York Daily News and the Associated Press, snapped photos of the man as he was taken down. They went into the post office with police to show them the photos.

The Daily News caught the dramatic scene in a photo, and reported the man was riding a bicycle, saying "Secret Service coming through," before he was tackled.
UPDATE: Police are reporting the man was unarmed

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