WASHINGTON: A significant number of emergency personnel rushed to the White House on Monday following a 911 call reporting a fire and a person trapped inside. The call, made at 7.03am ET (5.03pm PST), was traced to a fake number, leading to a swift response from multiple fire and emergency units.

President Joe Biden, who spent the weekend at Camp David, was not present on the White House grounds during the false alarm. However, a substantial DC Fire and EMS response was already on the site when it was confirmed to be a hoax.

The Secret Service, which looks after the White House, directed inquiries to Washington’s Fire Department and Emergency Services. The false call was identified as a “swatting” incident _ a dangerous criminal hoax aimed at luring law enforcement to a location under false pretenses.

This deceptive tactic often involves reports of heinous crimes like mass shooting, bombings, or hostage situations.

Swatting has become a concerning trend, targeting federal officials, politicians, and celebrities nationwide. Recent victims include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the New York judge overseeing Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, and the DC judge handling Trump’s federal election subversion case.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024