General
Gunshots rocks White House as Trump flees briefing
US President Donald Trump was abruptly led out of a news briefing by a Secret Service agent after shots were fired outside the White House.
The agent walked on stage as Mr Trump was speaking and whispered in his ear.
Mr Trump was heard to say “Oh!” and “What’s happening”, as he left the room. The White House was placed on lockdown during Monday’s incident.
The president returned nine minutes later to say the situation was under control and a man had been shot.
The US Secret Service confirmed the incident, saying there had been “an officer-involved shooting at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave”.
It said “a male subject and a USSS officer were both transported to a local hospital”, adding that “at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger”.
President Trump told reporters he believed the US Secret Service had shot a suspect, who was armed “from what I understand”.
He said did not know if the person harboured any ill intentions towards him.
“It might not have had anything to do with me,” the president said.
Mr Trump acknowledged it was an unusual situation, but praised the professionalism of the USSS.
A journalist asked Mr Trump if he was rattled by the events.
“Do I seem rattled?” he replied.
The president added:
“It’s unfortunate that this is the world, but the world’s always been a dangerous place. It’s not something that’s unique.
“The world has been, if you look back over the centuries, the world has been a dangerous place, very dangerous place, and it will continue, I guess, for a period of time.”
He told journalists he was escorted to the Oval Office outside the briefing room during the incident.
Also led out of the news conference were Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought. The doors were locked.
The District of Columbia fire department said a man suffered serious or possibly critical injuries, according to the Associated Press.
The news agency also reported that authorities were looking into whether the individual has a background of mental illness.
-
Entertainment20 hours ago
VIDEO: Why WizKid disrespected Don Jazzy – Mr Macaroni
-
Metro21 hours ago
Rooms rented at N250k per year discovered under Lagos bridge
-
News23 hours ago
Scarcity: Deal with fuel hoarders, Reps order security agencies
-
News23 hours ago
Obi inciting Southeast people against FG – Umahi
-
health22 hours ago
FG orders hospitals to use locally-made syringes, needles
-
News21 hours ago
14-year-old killed in UK sword attack is Nigerian
-
News12 hours ago
2024 UTME results not available on website yet – JAMB
-
News11 hours ago
Obi blames bad road, insecurity as 35 die in Kogi, Enugu