Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner (AP Photo)
US President Donald Trump and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night after gunshots were heard at the venue. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries.
Gunshots heard in the background as the U.S. Secret Service evacuates President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump off the stage at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/OijTD9Zx0g
The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. “Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck.
Many guests subsequently evacuated the room. This marked Trump’s first time attending the dinner since 2015.
Dinner attendees immediately stopped talking and people started screaming “Get down, get down! “Hundreds of guests dove under the tables as Secret Service officers in combat gear ran into the dining room. Trump and the first lady had bent down behind the dais before being hustled out by Secret Service officers.
Many of the 2,600 attendees took cover while waiters fled to the front of the dining hall. Shortly before being escorted off the stage by security, Melania Trump appeared to react to something in the crowd and had a concerned look on her face, according to a live feed from CSPAN.
However, Trump said, “I have recommended that we ‘let the show go on’ but, will entirely be guided by law enforcement,” following an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
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In a follow-up statement, Trump said, “Shooter has been apprehended.” A source familiar with the matter confirmed, “The suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident is in custody and is alive.”
Suspect in White House Correspondents dinner incident in custody and is alive, sources told Reuters.
Many of the roughly 2,600 attendees ducked for cover, while waitstaff hurried toward the front of the dining hall.
Moments before security escorted her off the stage, Melania Trump appeared to notice something in the crowd and looked visibly concerned, according to a live C-SPAN broadcast.
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Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner (AP Photo) 
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