The US Secret Service have arrested a man after a suspicious vehicle drove up to a White House checkpoint on Saturday night with the driver claiming to have a bomb in the vehicle. 

CNN reported that security as the White House was immediately upgraded and there was no confirmation on whether there was any device in the vehicle.

A Secret Service spokesperson said that “on 18 March, 2017 at approximately 11.05 pm last night local time (3.05 am this morning Irish time), an individual drove a vehicle up to a Secret Service checkpoint located at 15th Street and E Street NW.

“Upon contact with the individual, US Secret Service Uniform Division Officers detained the individual and declared his vehicle suspicious. In accordance with proper protocols, Secret Service personnel increased their posture of readiness,” they added.

At the time of the incident, President Donald Trump was away in his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The incident is the latest in a string of recent security breaches, including the arrest of a man earlier on Saturday who jumped over a bike rack in an attempt to reach the White House fence and enter the grounds.

A law enforcement official said that the man did not have a weapon, and was carrying a document he wanted to deliver to the White House.

Last week, another arrest was made after a man managed to jump over three barriers to breach the grounds of the White House, where he walked around for up to 16 minutes before being detained.