The White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton was interrupted by an armed attack, forcing Secret Service agents to immediately remove Donald Trump and the First Lady from the hall. A man armed with a shotgun and several other weapons tried to break through a security checkpoint and opened fire on security guards, Reuters reports.
One Secret Service agent was injured in the incident, but was saved by a bulletproof vest. Donald Trump said this.
During a press conference at the White House, the American leader clarified that the attacker acted alone and was neutralized at a considerable distance from the main hall, where about 2,600 guests were.
"The man rushed to the checkpoint, having several types of weapons with him, and was neutralized by very brave Secret Service officers," Trump emphasized, calling the attacker a "sick man."
After the sounds of shots in the ballroom, panic began, guests and cabinet members were forced to hide under tables while the security service took defensive positions.
The suspect is currently under arrest, and federal agents are searching his home in California. All high-ranking officials who attended the event, including the secretary of state and ministers, are safe. Despite the seriousness of the incident, the injured officer is in satisfactory condition, and law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the motives of the shooter, whom Trump described as a "lone wolf." The solemn event was officially canceled after the attack.
The shooter was identified as 31-year-old school teacher from California, Cole Allen, who, according to preliminary data, acted alone. This is reported by The New York Post.
The suspect has already been charged with two counts - use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and, on the second count, assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, said Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney in Washington.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on July 14, 2024, a man shot Donald Trump several times during a rally in Pennsylvania.
On September 15, 2024, shots rang out near Trump as he left his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.