There are reports that protesters surged towards the White House on Friday night, as US president Donald Trump, his wife Melania and son Barron briefly retreated to the Presidential Emergency Operations Centre – a fortified bunker-like structure beneath the residence.

The last time a US head of state was publicly known to have used the bunker was on 11 September, 2001, where senior members of the George W Bush administration spent that day after their west wing offices were evacuated. There are no other public reports of presidents needing to use the area since – the New York Times, which first reported this detail, says “it has not been used much, if at all” since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But it notes the area has since been strengthened to withstand the impact of a passenger jet.

The White House has declined to comment on the reports.

The historic St. John’s church across from the White House has been set on fire: pic.twitter.com/mWgtdkwBq3

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) June 1, 2020

BREAKING: Protesters lit another fire. US Park Police are pushing them back with OC spray, “flash bangs.” Some protesters are clashing with police. They say the death of #GeorgeFloyd is “the straw that broke the camels back.” @nbcwashington @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/IQEafLw9An

— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) June 1, 2020