US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday night after loud, unidentified noises triggered a major security response.
Trump says 'shooter apprehended' after president rushed from White House Correspondents' Dinner
Guests at the high-profile event abruptly stopped conversations as shouts of “Get down, get down!” rang out.
Hundreds of the roughly 2,600 attendees took cover under tables while Secret Service agents in combat gear rushed into the dining area.
BBC's Indrani Basu writes:
We had just finished our first course of salad at around 20:30 local time (01:30 BST) when I heard what sounded like glass shattering. Did someone drop a tray of wine glasses, was my immediate thought.
The BBC North America bureau chief, seated to my right, pulled my arm and shouted to get down. We all crawled under our table for what felt like a long time, but was probably just under five minutes. Eventually, we started crawling out after the immediate threat seemed to be over.
"I saw the main stage had been evacuated, where the president of the United States had been seated just minutes earlier," Basu said.
US President Donald Trump posts,
"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly.
Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again."
According to a White House aide, Trump was safe after a freelance photographer reported hearing four to six loud bangs inside the hotel, though not in the immediate vicinity of the dinner hall. Initial media reports suggested the presence of a gunman, prompting panic among attendees.
The Guardian’s Rachel Leingang was seated at the table alongside colleagues and guests when someone yelled that shots had been fired. Guests began diving under the tables. She recalls Secret Service agents running in and moving chairs of the way as they raced down the aisles.
“Everyone kind of stayed under the tables for a little while, until people started like popping back up and then everyone tried to figure out what was going on – they were talking to each other like, ‘What happened? What happened?’”
Then security agents came inside of the ballroom and said everyone needed to leave. Rachel said she left the room.
Now Rachel is outside, where the sounds of sirens and helicopters are buzzing all around. She is safe, and said the exits have been blocked.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said he was within a few feet of the shooter, and called into CNN to describe his observations.
Blitzer said he saw “a very, very serious weapon. He starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him. As he was shooting, of course, the first thing that went through my mind: is he trying to shoot me?
And I don’t think he was trying to shoot me, but I was very close to him as the gunshots were fired and he was very very scary.
But I’m okay, now.”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is a black-tie event hosted by the association of journalists who cover the US president, held annually in the cavernous ballroom Washington Hilton.
Known as “nerd prom” the evening has traditionally been attended by the president, political leaders, comedians and celebrities, who come together in celebration of press freedom. Often the presidentHowever, Trump had made it a practice not to attend during his first term. This year was the first time he had ever attended the event, and was set to make a speech.
A number of lawmakers have posted statements on social media about tonight's dinner.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he is "closely monitoring the unfolding situation at the White House Correspondents Dinner".
"I’m grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and am praying everyone remains safe," he says.
Republican Senator Rand Paul says: "Thank God the President and all of the attendees tonight are safe."
Republican Representative Nancy Mace says Americans should "pray for President Trump and for our country right now".
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