the Star-Ledger
President Barack Obama's motorcade turns onto Broadway from Barclay St after his visit to Ground Zero following the death of Osama bin Laden.
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 (see below) and reported the man was riding a bicycle, saying "Secret Service coming through," before he was tackled.
THE MAN WAS UNARMED***
by the Associated Press
New York City police briefly detained a man who was yelling "Secret Service, coming through" in order to get past throngs of onlookers as President Barack Obama made a visit to ground zero.
The man was behind a barricade on Church Street near Ground Zero today, as the president paid respects days after Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attack, was killed in a secret U.S. mission. The man had a yellow bicycle and pushed his way through the crowds saying he was Secret Service.
Officers believed he was acting suspiciously. They emptied his messenger bag, then brought him inside a post office located steps from the trade center site. At least one officer had a gun drawn.
The man was questioned and released. He was not armed.
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