Jessica R. Ford, of La Vergne, Tennessee is said to have intentionally rammed her Chevrolet Uplander 2008 into the gate

A 'mentally ill' woman who tried to ram a white minivan into a security barrier outside the White House was carrying a gun.

Jessica R. Ford, 35, of La Vergne, Tennessee is said to have intentionally rammed her Chevrolet Uplander 2008 into the gate.

Police said Friday night that she was charged with gun possession and other offences after the incident Friday afternoon at around 3.30pm.

Law enforcement sources told CNN she appeared to have mental health issues and is known to the Secret Service.

The Washington Post reported that she tried to jump the fence at the White House in April 2017.

Courts documents said she was approached by Secret Service on that occasion and told an agent 'I'm going to jump the fence'.

She then then ran toward the White House fence and tried to get over the barrier before she was stopped by officers.

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This is the moment the Secret Service is believed to have seized on the woman after she crashed into the barrier before her rear windshield was smashed out

This is the white Chevrolet Uplander which rammed into the White House security barrier on Friday afternoon. It has Tennessee plates and had a patriotic bumper sticker with the word 'pray on it. No shots were fired but the rear windshield was smashed

Law enforcement officials continued to search the car after the woman was taken away in custody

CNN reports that the incident was not directed towards President Trump. Ford is pictured above

According to the Post, Ford has had other encounters with the Secret Service 'resulting in numerous arrests for a variety of criminal violations'.

The white vehicle remained at the scene afterwards with its rear windshield smashed.

Its license plate was from Tennessee.

The White House was in lockdown immediately afterwards and the president was inside with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the time.

CNN reports that the incident was not directed towards President Trump.

The lockdown was lifted at around 4pm, at which time Prime Minister Turnbull left. According to Secret Service officials, no shots were fired.

CNN reports that the incident was not directed towards President Trump. The scene outside the White House

Trump spoke minutes earlier at a press conference in the East Room with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Trump praised the handling of the situation on Twitter Friday saying: 'Thank you to the great men and women of the United States @SecretService for a job well done!'

Ford was previously a server at Waffle House and Demos' Restaurant in Smyrna.

Ford also has a lengthy criminal history in Tennessee. In July 2003 she was charged with public intoxication, misuse of 911 and resisting stop-and-frisk halt.

She faced a DUI, refusing a blood-alcohol test and violating open container laws in September 2003 and the same year was cited on two occasions for felony prescription fraud.

The White House went immediately into lockdown and armed Secret Service officials sprang into action

An armed Secret Service officer stands guard outside the White House after the incident

Secret Service guards remained at the scene for hours afterwards as investigators worked