A gunman opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, prompting the evacuation of U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior officials, while one police officer was injured in the attack that authorities believe may have been aimed at administration figures, officials said.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators suspect the attacker travelled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, where he checked into a hotel linked to the high-profile media event. The suspect was later arrested at the scene after being overpowered by security forces.
Targeted attack under investigation
Blanche said early findings suggest the suspect may have been targeting Trump administration officials. “Law enforcement believes the individual was likely targeting officials within the administration,” he said during a briefing.
Officials said the attack took place at around 8.34 pm local time, as guests were being served dinner at the Washington Hilton, where the annual correspondents’ dinner was underway. President Trump was seen speaking with journalists and guests shortly before the incident unfolded.
The attacker reportedly fired shots outside the ballroom after entering the hotel premises armed with multiple weapons. Secret Service personnel swiftly evacuated Trump and senior officials to a secure location. One police officer sustained injuries while stopping the attacker but is reported to be stable.
Authorities said the suspect acted alone, though investigations into motive and possible ideological links are ongoing.
Global reaction, PM Modi expresses concern
The incident triggered strong reactions from global leaders. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a “disturbing event,” while French President Emmanuel Macron described it as “unacceptable.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” and stressed that “any attack on democratic institutions or press freedom must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed it an “attempted assassination” and praised U.S. security agencies for their response.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and conveyed relief that the U.S. President was safe. In a post, he said India “condemns all forms of political violence” and stressed that such attacks on democratic institutions were “deeply worrying.”
Suspect profile and investigation
Social media accounts linked to the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen of California, suggest he was a highly educated computer science graduate and amateur video game developer. Officials said they are verifying his background, travel history and possible motivations.
The White House Correspondents’ Association said the dinner was immediately suspended following the security breach. Law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service and FBI, are jointly investigating the incident.
Authorities said further details will be released after forensic analysis of weapons, digital devices and surveillance footage recovered from the scene.
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