Attendees duck under tables after shots fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Summary
Donald Trump was rushed to safety after gunshots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The suspect was taken into custody by the Secret Service –
One Secret Service officer was shot at very close range, but was saved by his bullet-proof vest, Trump says after returning to the White House
The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, US media report – he is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday
Allen tells authorities he was targeting Trump officials, CBS reports – police have said earlier that the suspect’s motive remains unknown
Law enforcement has been searching an address in Torrance, California believed to be linked to the suspected gunman
“We all crawled under our table for what felt like a long time,” writes a BBC journalist at the dinner
Vance pulled out of his chair during panic on stage. 00:00:28, play video
Vance pulled out of his chair during panic on stage
JD Vance being pulled out of his chair at White House Correspondents’ dinner
Gary O’Donoghue describes confusion and fear.
Gary O’Donoghue describes confusion and fear
Gary O’Donoghue
Police seal off area near address linked to alleged gunman. 00:00:27, play video
Police seal off area near address linked to alleged gunman
An aerial view of a group of people standing behind a police cordon.
Eyewitness describes dinner shooting ‘chaos’
Reingold speaking in front of a live photo of The White House
Trump posts footage of would-be shooter running past security. 00:00:16, play video
Watch: Trump posts footage of would-be shooter running past security
Surveillance video of shooter at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Trump: ‘I fought like hell to stay’ at dinner. 00:00:33, play video
Trump: ‘I fought like hell to stay’ at dinner
Trump in tuxedo at podium
0:27
Moment Secret Service agents rush Trump from stage. 00:00:27, play video
Moment Secret Service agents rush Trump from stage
Trump sitting at head table before being escorted out
Tom Bateman recounts scenes in room after suspected gunshots. 00:01:06, play video
Tom Bateman recounts scenes in room after suspected gunshots
Tom Bateman in a black suit and white shirt
Trump on why he thinks he’s been targeted by would-be assassins. 00:01:05, play video
Trump on why he thinks he’s been targeted by would-be assassins
Trump in tuxedo at podium looking to left
Dinner to be rescheduled says White House Correspondents’ Association president. 00:01:00, play video
Dinner to be rescheduled says White House Correspondents’ Association president
WHCA president at podium
‘High drama’ in the room at the correspondents’ dinner. 00:00:55, play video
‘High drama’ in the room at the correspondents’ dinner
Washington correspondent Dan Bush in tuxedo
Trump, attendees take cover after suspected gunshots. 00:00:17, play video
Trump, attendees take cover after suspected gunshots
Security escorts Trump away from table
Live Reporting
Edited by Tinshui Yeung and Rorey Bosotti, with reporting from BBC journalists in Washington
‘Certainly security problems’ with event, says former US ambassador
published at 11:47
11:47
Former US ambassador Kim Darroch speaks on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Reacting to last night’s shooting at the Whire House Correspondents’ Dinner, former UK ambassador to the US Kim Darroch tells the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg there are “certainty security problems” with the event.
All you have to do is “show your invitation card… to get into the building”, he says. To then get into the ballroom, you go through a metal detector and bag check, he says.
“But it is a hotel and it’s full of guests who are just there in the hotel,” he adds.
For someone with “bad intentions”, there’s “just one security thing you have to get past”, he says.
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New images of suspect being detained at scene
We’ve just seen some new photos of the moments after the suspect of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was detained by law enforcement.
The images come from a video shared with Reuters news agency, who say they have verified the location and date of the footage.
Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, lies on the floor after being detained by law enforcement personnel
Image source,Handout via REUTERS
Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, lies on the floor after being detained by law enforcement personnel
Image source,Handout via REUTERS
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Chaos as gunfire heard in Washington DC ballroom
published at 11:22
11:22
An event that convenes some of America’s most high-profile politicians, diplomats and journalists descended into chaos on Saturday night, as gunfire was heard inside a Washington DC hotel.
The pictures that have emerged from the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner are striking.
We have more about how the night unfolded in pictures in our full piece.
Donald Trump seated next to US First Lady Melania Trump and Weijia Jiang, President of the White House Correspondents’ Association
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Before the shots rang out, Donald Trump was seated next to US First Lady Melania Trump and Weijia Jiang, President of the White House Correspondents’ Association
Donald Trump is taken off stage with heavily armed Secret Service personnel in front
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Trump is rushed off stage by Secret Service agents as heavily armed officers survey the scene
Mike Johnson is bundled through a room by Secret Service
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Attendees – including House Speaker Mike Johnson – are taken out of the ballroom
Trump shared this photo of the alleged gunman being surrounded by US secret service, with his hands cuffed behind his back, on his Truth Social platform.
Image source,@realDonaldTrump/ Truth Social
Image caption,
Trump later releases a photo of a handcuffed man laying on the floor surrounded by Secret Service agents, saying this is the alleged gunman
White House guests who were dressed for the ballroom event attend the Press Briefing Room.
Image source,AFP via Getty Images
Image caption,
Still in their ball gowns and tuxedos, many of the dinner guests – who are journalists – head over to the White House’s Press Briefing room to receive an update from Trump
FBI and other law enforcement teams search a property in Torrance, California, believed to be linked to the suspect
FBI and other law enforcement teams search a property in Torrance, California, believed to be linked to the suspect
Further security discussions today before King travels to US, says PM’s chief secretary
published at 11:08
11:08
Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones speaks to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones says “further discussions [on security] will be taking place today” ahead of the King’s state visit to the US next week.
For context: The King and Queen will travel to the US for a four-day visit beginning on Monday, and will meet with Trump at the White House
Asked whether security will step up following last night’s shooting, Jones tells the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “There will be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk.”
He says the government and palace were already in close cooperation with counterparts in the US ahead of the visit, even before yesterday’s events.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp says it is “vital” to ensure the King is properly protected, but that the trip should “absolutely go ahead” as violence should not be allowed to stop diplomatic relations.
He says security should be “urgently reviewed overnight”, but adds that it typically very tight for these trips anyway.
This isn’t the first time Trump has been at the scene of a shooting
Security officals shield Trump, who raises his fist as a stream of blood streaks down the right side of his face
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Trump during his rally in July 2024, after he was shot in an attempted assasination
We still haven’t received an official update on the suspect’s motive. Whilst police have said this remains unclear, the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reports that the alleged gunman told authorities he was targeting officials linked to the Trump administration.
Following the shooting incident at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the US president was asked by a journalist: why do you think this keeps happening to you?
There have been various security incidents in the past few years involving Trump.
In July 2024, he was shot in his right ear at during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight!” as he was ushered off stage by security. One person in the crowd died.
Months later in September 2024, the then-former president was rushed to safety after a suspected gunman was spotted hiding in the bushes of his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump, in his own words, was “safe and well”.
The most recent incident before last night was in February 2026. An armed man was shot dead after entering the secure perimeter of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The president was in Washington DC at the time.
“The people that make the biggest impact, they’re the ones they go after. They don’t go after the ones that don’t do much,” Trump said in answer to the journalist today.
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‘More than enough’ security at event, says former Secret Service agent
published at 10:44
10:44
Former secret service agent Barry Donadio speaks to BBC News
Former Secret Service agent Barry Donadio says he watched footage of last night’s incident “in shock like everybody else”.
Donadio tells BBC News he has worked at the “very same hotel”, describing it as “tremendously big” – but he says that there appears to have been “no lack of agents, officers and police” at the event.
“They probably had more than enough, and they certainly did because they stopped him,” he says.
Referring to security camera footage seemingly capturing the start of the shooting, he says security doesn’t appear to have had much time to react – “maybe two seconds”.
FBI agents leave the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner
Image source,Reuters
We can now bring you some pictures of FBI agents leaving a home believed to be linked to the alleged shooter in Torrance, California.
Vehicles are pictured driving away from the scene with armed agents in combat gear.
FBI agents leave the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner
Image source,Reuters
FBI agents leave the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner
Image source,Reuters
World leaders extend warm messages to Trump following shooting
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez pictured
Image source,AFP via Getty Images
Leaders from across the world have been reacting to a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is “relieved” that President Trump and the first lady, along with those in attendance, are safe. He adds: “My thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event”.
His Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, also says he is “pleased to hear” that those at the scene are safe. “We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement,” he adds.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, expresses her support for the US president, the first lady and all attendees, adding that “political violence has no place in democracy”.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez “strongly condemn[s] the attempted attack” and extends “best wishes” to those in attendance.
Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani Prime Minister, says he is “deeply shocked” by the shooting and extends his “thoughts and prayers” to Trump.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he sends “best wishes for their continued safety and well-being” to the president, the first lady and the vice-president.
“We send our respect,” says Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, adding that “violence should never be the way”.
Starmer ‘shocked by the scenes’ at White House dinner
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Image source,Reuters
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he’s “shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington overnight”.
“Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” he says.
Starmer says it is a “huge relief” that Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and the event’s other attendees are unharmed.
A reminder that police have so far said that the motive for the shooting is unclear, but sources have told the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, that the suspect told law enforcement he wanted to target Trump administration officials.
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Secret Service train for incidents like this, says former FBI agent
Former FBI special agent Jeff Kroeger speaks to BBC Breakfast. He’s wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and tie while sitting in what appears to be an office in a private hope, a chequered couch and family pictures on a wooden table behind him
Former FBI special agent Jeff Kroeger tells BBC Breakfast that staying at the Hilton suggests the suspect had planned the attack out “for a while”.
For context: Police earlier said the alleged shooter was a guest at the hotel where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was being held
“Was it a grievance, a political motive?” he questions, adding that this is what officials will be looking into at the moment. As a reminder, police said earlier that the motive remains unclear.
On the security response, Kroeger says: “This is exactly what the Secret Service is trained do to.”
When the threat occurred, they “converged on the president”, creating a “body barrier”, he says. The president was then removed from the venue to a safe location, he adds.
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‘A coward attempted to create national tragedy’ – US Secret Service
published at 09:42
09:42
We’ve just seen a statement from the US Secret Service, who brought down the suspect who opened fire at a dinner attended by President Donald Trump last night.
“Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy. He underestimated the protective capabilities of the US Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact,” a statement from Deputy Director Matthew Quinn reads.
The “strength of our layered security posture was evident,” says Quinn, who notes there was “a myriad of countermeasures still ahead”.
He adds: “Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners.”
What we know about the suspected attacker
published at 09:22
09:22
Man being detained, as he lies down with arms behind his back
Image source,Donald Trump
Photo of the suspect in custody, shared by Donald Trump
The alleged gunman who fired shots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner a few hours ago has been named as Cole Tomas Allen, according to US media.
The 31-year-old is reportedly from Torrance, California – in the south-western suburbs of Los Angeles.
CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, says Allen worked as a tutor in Torrance after graduating from the highly regarded California Institute of Technology.
Police say he was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was taking place, and was carrying multiple weapons – including guns and knives.
Allen is receiving hospital treatment following the incident. He is expected to be formally charged on Monday.
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