The secret service said on Monday the White House had returned to normal operations after being placed on lockdown early in the afternoon.

Spokesman Robert Hoback said someone at about 12.15pm threw a metal object over the north fence along Pennsylvania Avenue and was arrested without incident. Hoback did not identify the person, though a witness saw a woman placed in handcuffs.

Fire trucks and a hazardous materials response unit were called to the scene. It is common for officers to sweep the grounds after such incidents to ensure nothing dangerous was thrown over the fence.

Hoback said the sweep results were negative.

The lockdown ensued shortly after Barack Obama returned from a Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery.