A gunman armed with multiple weapons attempted to storm a Washington dinner attended by Donald Trump, just days before King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to meet the US president during a state visit.
Incident at White House Correspondents' Dinner
The White House Correspondents' Association dinner descended into chaos on Saturday night when Trump was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents, along with other senior administration officials. One officer was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest and taken to hospital. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, was carrying a shotgun and handgun.
Trump described the suspect as a 'lone wolf whack job' and praised the Secret Service for their swift response. The president said the gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he sat on stage. He added: 'I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful.'
Impact on Royal State Visit
The incident comes just days before King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US, where they are due to meet Trump and attend a White House banquet. When asked about the incident and any impact on the trip, Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on security matters.
Washington mayor Muriel Bowser said she had 'no reason' to believe anyone else was involved. Acting attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed against the suspect, who currently faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon. Blanche said: 'Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country.'
Trump Vows to Reschedule Event
Trump vowed to reschedule the disrupted event within the next 30 days. He posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention. The British ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, was among the guests and thanked the Secret Service for their professional response.
The Washington Hilton has been the location of a previous attempted presidential assassination when then-president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel in 1981, leading to heightened security at the property.
