UPDATE: Man drives truck onto The Mall near U.S. Capitol — claims hazardous material inside

UPDATE

From Sgt. Anna Rose, US Park Police PIO:

On May 17, 2016 a man drove his truck, a white, four-door pickup, onto the National Mall between 3^rd and 4^th Streets Northwest claiming that he had been exposed to anthrax.  The man had called the United States Capitol Police to warn of the exposure and that he had anthrax with him in the vehicle. 

After exiting the vehicle, he was checked for exposure to anthrax.  The test results were negative.  As a safety precaution he and the officers who made contact him went through a decontamination procedure.

The man allegedly saw the substance being spread on a field in Virginia, thought it was a threat to people, and collected the substance in order to warn others of the danger.  He never threatened anyone and has been compliant throughout the incident.

At this point, the road closures remain in place while we determine the status of the truck.  Together with DC Fire and EMS, the United States Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department, we are working to make sure that there is no threat to public safety.

EARLIER

Bruce Leshan, WUSA9.com:

Several roads are closed near the U.S. Capitol after a man drove his truck onto the National Mall after he believed he was exposed to anthrax, U.S. Park Police say.

3rd Street is closed between Constitution Avenue NW and Pennsylvania Avenue SW. Sidewalks in the area are also closed.

According to a Park Police spokesperson, the man believed he was exposed to anthrax on a farm in rural Virginia and brought a substance he thought was anthrax with him. A robot is being sent to the van to check out the substance and the man tested negative for anthrax. 

LATEST TWEETS FIRST

Witness Tom Cipu described arrest on Mall. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/uq1aeJ5qoh

— Bruce Leshan (@BruceLeshan) May 17, 2016

Anthrax suspicions after man drives vehicle on Mall. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/PQeC064rH7

— Bruce Leshan (@BruceLeshan) May 17, 2016

Capitol Hill police say the man has claimed to have a “dangerous substance” in his vehicle https://t.co/Kj1BdF77E3 pic.twitter.com/W4a8P5DkJB

— Weasel Zippers (@weaselzippers) May 17, 2016