Washington shooting: King’s security for US trip always ‘taken very seriously’

The US president said the attack ‘unified’ political opponents and the press attending the event at a Washington DC hotel.

A Government minister said the King’s security during his US state visit this week is being taken “very seriously” after a gunman tried to charge a Washington DC dinner attended by Donald Trump.

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was thrown into chaos by the attack on Saturday night and saw the American president, who has been the previous target of an assassination attempt, swiftly evacuated by secret service agents along with other senior members of the administration.

One officer who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest was taken to hospital.

The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel where the dinner was being held.

He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.

Sir Keir Starmer has sent a message of solidarity to Mr Trump after the incident, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News.

He said: “These are remarkable scenes. The Prime Minister has, this morning, sent a message to the president of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place.

“As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.”

Asked if there are any extra concerns for the King’s safety during the state visit that begins on Monday, Mr Jones said: “As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.”

Sir Keir said he was “shocked” by the incident overnight.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: “Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”

The armed assault comes just days before the state visit by the King and Queen, where they are due to meet Mr Trump and attend a White House banquet.

When asked about the incident and any impact on the trip, Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on security matters.

The president posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention.

Mr Trump vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had “unified” political opponents and the media.

He was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president.

Mr Trump said: “My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.”

The president praised the secret service and said the gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he sat on stage at the time of the incident.

He added: “I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing.

“To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of secret service, and they acted very quickly.”

He added: “It is always shocking when something like this happens.”

Washington mayor Muriel Bowser said she had “no reason” to believe anyone else was involved.

Mr Blanche said: “Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country. You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward… but you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they’re supposed to do.

“I promise you justice will be served.”

Among the guests at the black tie event, which Mr Trump said would be rescheduled in the next 30 days, was the British ambassador Sir Christian Turner.

The top diplomat posted on social media: “The @UKinUSA team attending tonight’s White House Correspondents dinner are grateful for the swift and professional response of the Secret Service.

“We are thankful that the President and all those in attendance were unharmed & our best wishes are with the injured officer.”

The Washington Hilton has been the location of a previous attempted presidential assassination when then president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel in 1981.

It led to security being ramped up at the property.