Trump and his officials 'likely' targets of suspected gunman, acting attorney general says
Summary
Donald Trump was a "likely" target of last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, according to the acting US attorney general
Todd Blanche says "preliminary" findings suggest the suspected gunman was targeting members of the Trump administration
US media identify the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California - Blanche says the suspect is not cooperating with the authorities
Police earlier said the suspect's motive remains unknown. In his first interview since the incident, President Donald Trump claims it was a "religious thing" and "strongly anti-Christian"
At about 20:35 ET (01:35 BST) shots were heard at the event, which a number of senior politicians and journalists were attending - here's a timeline of how the incident unfolded
Starmer wishes injured officer speedy recovery in phone call with Trump
ReutersPrime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump on the phone this afternoon.
He extended his best wishes to the president and first lady following the "shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents' Dinner", according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
The PM expressed his relief that they were safe, and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured in the incident, the spokesperson adds.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the "urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy".
Washington hotel shooting raises questions about Trump security
Getty ImagesDressed in a black tuxedo just hours after he was at the centre of yet another major security incident, US President Donald Trump told reporters: "I can't imagine that there's any profession that is more dangerous."
While a small army of Secret Service agents make the president arguably the world's most protected person, keeping him safe is proving to be no easy task.
First there was the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 2024 in which a bullet grazed his ear. Just 64 days later, Trump was again the target of a would-be assassin as he played a round on his Florida golf course.
And now, hours after gunshots shattered the revelry of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at Hilton hotel in the nation's capital, Trump's security is once again under scrutiny.
Trump says shooting highlights need for White House ballroom
ReutersPresident Trump says what happened at the White House Correspondents' Dinner would never have happened "with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House".
In a post on Truth Social, Trump says: "What happened last night is exactly the reason" that the military and every president for the last 150 years have been "DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE".
He adds that the ballroom has "every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House".
Trump says nothing should be allowed to interfere with its construction "which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!!"
Suspect not actively cooperating with authorities, acting attorney general tells CBS
A bit more now from Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has been speaking to multiple US media outlets on Sunday.
In an interview with CBS News's Face the Nation, he reiterates previous comments that investigators believe the suspect was targeting members of the Trump administration.
He adds that the suspect is not actively cooperating with authorities.
Blanche tells CBS that investigators believe the suspect was staying at the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held, and travelled to Washington by train - initially travelling from Los Angeles to Chicago, before heading on to the capital.
'Preliminary' findings suggest suspect targeting 'administration officials' - Acting AG Blanche
BreakingReutersActing US Attorney General Todd Blanche says the motive of the suspected gunman is still under investigation, but that "preliminary" findings suggest he was targeting administration officials, "likely" including the president.
He tells NBC's Meet the Press that investigators are looking at reports the alleged gunman assembled the weapon in the hotel, adding that the suspect "didn't get very far".
"He barely broke the perimeter," Blanche says. He adds that the suspect likely travelled by train from LA to Chicago, and then to Washington DC.
He also confirms that the suspect will be formally charged on Monday.
Search continues at California home linked to shooting suspect
The sun is yet to rise in Torrance, California, where US law enforcement are continuing searching an address believed to be linked to the suspect behind yesterday's shooting.
Reuters news agency are providing a live feed at the location of the search. In the footage, you can see various parked cars outside the home, where the lights are on.
Through the blurred window panes on the front door, there also appears to be people inside.
ReutersReutersUS Secret Service tells BBC injured agent discharged from hospital
ReutersThe agent who was injured was sent to a local hospital and he is in "good spirits," officials said yesterday
The US Secret Service has confirmed to the BBC that the agent who sustained injuries in last night's shooting has been released from hospital.
"I can confirm the officer has been discharged, and the ballistic vest helped us avoid a potential tragedy last night," the Secret Service's chief of communications, Anthony Guglielmi, tells the BBC.
"The defendant is now before a federal court, and comments at this stage will come from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia."
He says the Secret Service is now conducting a "comprehensive review of the defendant’s background and networks to better understand his motivations, leaving no detail unexamined".
'We have to think about how fragile freedoms are in this country,' says dinner host
EPA/ShutterstockJiang and Trump had been sat next to each other before Secret Service agents rushed him out the room
Weijia Jiang is president of the White House Correspondents' Association - which puts on the annual gala - and was sat next to President Trump at the time of the shooting.
"What was going through my mind is my seven-year-old daughter was there. My husband was there. My parents were there," she tells CBS News, for whom she is senior White House correspondent.
"On a night where we all came together to celebrate the freedoms and the First Amendment, we also have to think about how fragile they are in this country because … shootings and would-be shootings happen every day."
"And it doesn't matter if it's the White House Correspondents' Dinner or anywhere else in this country. Nobody should have to feel that way. Nobody should have to feel scared to be anywhere in a public place," she adds.
How events unfolded, as Trump says attackers go after 'big names'
ReutersIt has been over 10 hours since shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC. Here's a recap of how the evening unfolded:
- Donald Trump was quickly escorted to safety by the Secret Service, as attendees sheltered under tables and journalists began reporting from the room. Here's a timeline of events and a description of what this annual dinner actually is
- Asked why several attempts have been made on his life, Trump told reporters that attackers go after the "big names" who have made "the biggest impact". He said he "fought like hell" to stay at the event, but ultimately followed advice and returned to the White House
- The suspect has been identified by US media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California - here's a profile. Trump shared an image of a man he says is the gunman laying on the ground shirtless after being detained by security
- The BBC's US partner CBS News reports that the suspect told authorities he was targeting Trump officials. Police say the motive remains unknown. He is expected to be formally charged in court on two counts on Monday
- Questions have been raised about security at the event. "No one looked at my ID," says BBC correspondent Gary O'Donoghue who was at the scene
More details on the King's four-day state visit, as Palace reviews security
Getty ImagesThe King previously hosted Trump in the UK in 2025
Let's bring you some more context following the statement from Buckingham Palace.
The King and Queen are due to travel to the US for a four-day state visit beginning on Monday, and are set to meet with Trump at the White House. It will be the first UK state visit to the US since the late Elizabeth II's in 2007.
Questions have been raised over whether the shooting in Washington will impact security planning. A few minutes ago, Buckingham Palace said it was assessing any possible impact on "operational planning".
The King is expected to address both houses of Congress, visit the 9/11 memorial in New York, and attend a wreath laying to honour fallen US and UK soldiers in Virginia.
Earlier, the PM's Chief Secretary Darren Jones said there would be "appropriate security in place in relation to the risk". Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the trip should "absolutely" still go ahead, adding that violence should not be allowed to prevent diplomatic relations.
Discussions taking place on security planning for King's US state visit - Buckingham Palace
BreakingBuckingham Palace says "a number of discussions will be taking place" with US colleagues today to determine whether the Washington shooting will impact planning for the King's upcoming state visit.
The King is "being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed," it adds.
Alleged gunman was a tutor, having graduated from top school - CBS
The man alleged to have opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last night was a California-based tutor who went to a top-ranking university, reports the BBC's US partner CBS News.
The suspect - who has been identified in US media as Cole Tomas Allen - had been a teacher for a tutoring service in Torrance, two law enforcement officials tell CBS. It is unclear if he was still employed by the company.
The California Institute of Technology confirmed to CBS in an email that Allen graduated from Caltech in 2017, but provided no further details.
What remains unclear following the shooting?
ReutersWhilst we've learnt details about how last night's shooting unfolded, and the suspect allegedly behind it, there are questions yet to be answered about the incident:
- Motive. Whilst the BBC's US partner CBS News reports that the suspect told police he was targeting Trump's team, law enforcement officials have said that the motive behind the shooting is yet to be confirmed
- An officially named suspect. US media are reporting the suspect's name as Cole Tomas Allen, but police haven't identified the alleged gunman officially
- How the suspect got past security. He was holding multiple weapons, according to local police, yet appears to have managed to run past the security cordon at the event, CCTV footage purportedly shows. Questions have been raised about security arrangements at the event
- A rescheduled dinner date. The White House Correspondents' Dinner will be rescheduled in the next 30 days, but it's yet to be pinned to a specific date
'One individual's alleged actions do not define our city,' says Torrance mayor
ReutersFBI and law enforcement earlier searched a property in Torrance, California
The mayor of Torrance, a city in California, has issued a statement after FBI and other law enforcement officials searched a local property believed to be linked to the suspected gunman.
"We are aware of reports identifying the suspect as a resident of Torrance," says Mayor George Chen. "While that connection is deeply troubling, one individual's alleged actions do not define our city".
He says the City of Torrance "stands firmly against political violence, extremist, and acts of hatred in any form".
- A reminder that officials have not yet confirmed the identity of the suspect nor offered a motive, but US media has named him as Cole Tomas Allen, while CBS News reports that the alleged gunman told law enforcement he wanted to target figures linked to the Trump administration
Agent who was shot released from hospital, US media report
The US Secret Service (USSS) officer who was shot during the incident last night has been released from hospital, according to US media outlets CNN and NBC.
CNN cites USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi as its source, while NBC cites an unnamed source.
Trump said overnight that the agent had been shot from close range but was saved by his bullet-proof vest.
The BBC has contacted the USSS for comment.
'No one looked at my ID': BBC correspondent describes security going in to event
Gary O’Donoghue
Chief North America correspondentThe BBC's chief North America correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue, attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington last night. Earlier, he described the scenes inside the ballroom
I walked a couple of blocks to the hotel, then waved my invite at someone who looked at it from about six feet away. No one looked at my ID.
I was checked a little bit on the way into the ballroom, but even when the beeper went off they didn't ask me to empty my pockets.
The Secret Service did their job, they stopped this guy from getting into the ballroom.
But that security cordon was right outside the ballroom doors, and of course the hotel was full of regular guests.
'Certainly security problems' with event, says former US ambassador
Jeff Overs/BBCReacting 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.
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.
Handout via REUTERSHandout via REUTERS
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