A man armed with guns and knives has been arrested after storming the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attended by President Donald Trump on Saturday night (1:30am UK time).
The man charged towards the ballroom before an encounter with Secret Service agents, shots were fired as guests hid under tables.
The president was uninjured and was rushed off the stage.
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A video posted by President Trump to Truth Social shows Secret Service agents responding to the suspect as he rushes the building. He is then pictured on the ground after being detained. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but is recovering, officials say.
The armed man, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, was taken into custody and is expected in court on Monday.
The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. He is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
Police said they had not yet established a motive, although CBS reports he was targeting Trump officials.
No civilian injuries were reported, with the event attended by approximately 2,600 prominent guests, including Vice-President JD Vance, President Trump's wife Melania, journalists and politicians.
Mr Trump was initially held in a Presidential Suite, as he along with organisers looked to resume the event. He was eventually escorted back to the White House upon advice of the Secret Service - the dinner will be rescheduled.
Speaking at the White House two hours later, Mr Trump said: “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone. They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”
Asked about his message to the world, following the shooting - the third incident during his second term, he said:
"You can have the greatest security in the world but if you've got a whack job whose brain is distorted, they can make trouble,"
FBI director Kash Patel said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner.
He urged anyone with information to come forward.
Topics: Donald Trump
Ben Smith