Secret Service investigating potential threat against Barack Obama

Police in the northeast United States are reportedly searching for an individual that may have made a threat against President Barack Obama.

An official with the Secret Service told NBC News that the agency was working with local police in Westchester, New York, to determine whether Mr Obama’s life was in danger.

The official said that law enforcement were looking for a ‘potentially suspicious person and vehicle” in the area where Mr Obama was appearing throughout the day.

A statement issued by the Secret Service confirmed that information had been received regarding a suspicious person and vehicle, and that efforts were underway to assess the validity of the information provided.

The president landed at Westchester County Airport around 4am AEST and was scheduled to attend at a series of fundraising events throughout the northeast this morning.

Police in Connecticut said they were looking for a man driving a silver Volkswagen Jetta, and believe that he may be armed with an assault rifle.