US Secret Service head Julia Pierson takes blame for White House breach

The head of the US Secret Service last night took "full responsibility" for a security lapse at the White House in which an intruder with a knife gained access to an area just yards from the president's private rooms.

The Washington Post said that the man climbed a fence, ran across the lawn and rushed in through the front door of the White House into the ceremonial East Room, one floor below the private residence of Barack Obama and his family.

Yesterday, under-fire Secret Service director Julia Pierson was grilled by lawmakers. She conceded: "This is unacceptable. I take full responsibility and it will never happen again."

She said the front door to the White House now locked automatically - the intruder barged past a Secret Service agent as he tried to lock the door manually.

The armed man, Texas native Omar Gonzalez, was eventually intercepted outside the Green Room, an ornamental chamber that overlooks the South Lawn of the White House - on the opposite side of the building from the main North doors, through which he entered.

The US president and his daughters had left the White House minutes before the intrusion, by helicopter from the South Lawn, for the presidential retreat at Camp David.