Reacting 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.

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.

Image source, Handout via REUTERS

Image source, Handout via REUTERS

An event that convenes some of America's most high-profile politicians, diplomats and journalists descended into chaos on Saturday night,as gunfire was heard inside a Washington DC hotel.

The pictures that have emerged from the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner are striking.

• We have more about how the night unfolded in pictures in our full piece.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, @realDonaldTrump/ Truth Social

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones says "further discussions [on security] will be taking place today" ahead of the King's state visit to the US next week.

• For context: The King and Queen will travel to the US for a four-day visit beginning on Monday, and will meet with Trump at the White House

Asked whether security will step up following last night's shooting, Jones tells the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "There will be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk."

He says the government and palace were already in close cooperation with counterparts in the US ahead of the visit, even before yesterday's events.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp says it is "vital" to ensure the King is properly protected, but that the trip should "absolutely go ahead" as violence should not be allowed to stop diplomatic relations.

He says security should be "urgently reviewed overnight", but adds that it typically very tight for these trips anyway.

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

We still haven't received an official update on the suspect's motive. Whilst police have said this remains unclear, the BBC's US partner, CBS News, reports that the alleged gunman told authorities he was targeting officials linked to the Trump administration.

Following the shooting incident at last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner, the US president was asked by a journalist: why do you think this keeps happening to you?

There have been various security incidents in the past few years involving Trump.

In July 2024, he was shot in his right ear at during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight!" as he was ushered off stage by security. One person in the crowd died.

Months later in September 2024, the then-former president was rushed to safety after a suspected gunman was spotted hiding in the bushes of his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump, in his own words, was "safe and well".

The most recent incident before last night was in February 2026. An armed man was shot dead after entering the secure perimeter of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. The president was in Washington DC at the time.

"The people that make the biggest impact, they're the ones they go after. They don't go after the ones that don't do much," Trump said in answer to the journalist today.

Former Secret Service agent Barry Donadio says he watched footage of last night's incident "in shock like everybody else".

Donadio tells BBC News he has worked at the "very same hotel", describing it as "tremendously big" - but he says that there appears to have been "no lack of agents, officers and police" at the event.

"They probably had more than enough, and they certainly did because they stopped him," he says.

Referring to security camera footage seemingly capturing the start of the shooting, he says security doesn't appear to have had much time to react - "maybe two seconds".

Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you some pictures of FBI agents leaving a home believed to be linked to the alleged shooter in Torrance, California.

Vehicles are pictured driving away from the scene with armed agents in combat gear.

Here's what we know about the suspected gunman, who is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Leaders from across the world have been reacting to a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is "relieved" that President Trump and the first lady, along with those in attendance, are safe. He adds: "My thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event".

His Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, also says he is "pleased to hear" that those at the scene are safe. “We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement," he adds.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's top diplomat, expresses her support for the US president, the first lady and all attendees, adding that "political violence has no place in democracy".

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez "strongly condemn[s] the attempted attack" and extends "best wishes" to those in attendance.

Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani Prime Minister, says he is "deeply shocked" by the shooting and extends his "thoughts and prayers" to Trump.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he sends "best wishes for their continued safety and well-being" to the president, the first lady and the vice-president.

"We send our respect," says Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, adding that "violence should never be the way".

Image source, Reuters

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he's "shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington overnight".

"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he says.

Starmer says it is a "huge relief" that Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and the event's other attendees are unharmed.

• A reminder that police have so far said that the motive for the shooting is unclear, but sources have told the BBC's US partner, CBS News, that the suspect told law enforcement he wanted to target Trump administration officials.

Former FBI special agent Jeff Kroeger tells BBC Breakfast that staying at the Hilton suggests the suspect had planned the attack out "for a while".

• For context: Police earlier said the alleged shooter was a guest at the hotel where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held

"Was it a grievance, a political motive?" he questions, adding that this is what officials will be looking into at the moment. As a reminder, police said earlier that the motive remains unclear.

On the security response, Kroeger says: "This is exactly what the Secret Service is trained do to."

When the threat occurred, they "converged on the president", creating a "body barrier", he says. The president was then removed from the venue to a safe location, he adds.

We've just seen a statement from the US Secret Service, who brought down the suspect who opened fire at a dinner attended by President Donald Trump last night.

"Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy. He underestimated the protective capabilities of the US Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact," a statement from Deputy Director Matthew Quinn reads.

The "strength of our layered security posture was evident," says Quinn, who notes there was "a myriad of countermeasures still ahead".

He adds: "Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners."

Image source, Donald Trump

The alleged gunman who fired shots at the White House Correspondents' Dinner a few hours ago has been named as Cole Tomas Allen, according to US media.

The 31-year-old is reportedly from Torrance, California - in the south-western suburbs of Los Angeles.

CBS News, the BBC's US partner, says Allen worked as a tutor in Torrance after graduating from the highly regarded California Institute of Technology.

Police say he was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was taking place, and was carrying multiple weapons - including guns and knives.

Allen is receiving hospital treatment following the incident. He is expected to be formally charged on Monday.

• You can read more about the suspect in our news piece

At about 20:35 ET (00:35 GMT, 01:35 BST): Shots are heard at the Washington Hilton and guests take cover. Shortly after, Secret Service agents rush to Donald Trump and escort him and his cabinet out of the room.

21:17: Donald Trump makes his first comments, writing on Truth Social that the alleged gunman "has been apprehended".

21:36: Trump says he is leaving the Washington Hilton at the request of law enforcement.

22:29: The US president shares footage that appears to show the start of the shooting, and follows it up shortly after with a photograph of the suspect.

22:30: Trump holds a news conference from the White House, alongside FBI chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. Trump says the "impression" is that the suspect was a "lone wolf".

About 22:50: US media, including the BBC's US partner CBS, name the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, citing multiple sources.

About 23:10: Live pictures start coming in, showing a police search of a property in Torrance, California.

About 23:15: US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, says authorities plan to formally charge the suspect in federal court on Monday.

The BBC's US partner, CBS News, reports that the alleged gunman has told authorities he was targeting officials linked to US President Donald Trump.

Citing two unnamed sources, CBS also says that at least five to eight gunshots were fired during the incident.

Image source, Reuters

We're now seeing live pictures of FBI agents and police officers searching an address believed to be linked to the alleged gunman.

The footage - filmed from a helicopter - shows a heavy police presence in the neighbourhood of Torrance, California.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
White House reporter

The White House Correspondents' Dinner has become a "be and be seen" event over the years, attracting top government officials and celebrities.

Beyond the dinner itself, the whole week sees Washington buzzing with parties hosted by embassies, organisations and media outlets.

But at its heart, the dinner is about raising money for promising young journalism students from across the country, who receive financial assistance from the White House Correspondents' Association.

Each student is paired with a mentor who is an association member and an active reporter at the White House. They all receive invitations to the dinner.

This year, for the second time, I was a mentor to one of the students, a bright and cheerful young woman.

She told me that she and the other students were frazzled, but safe.

They never expected the dinner would end so abruptly in a shooting incident.

Gunshots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night. The suspect was arrested. An officer was shot at close range, but his bullet-proof vest saved him.

Here’s a recap of what happened:

• The annual event was held at the Washington Hilton hotel, with Trump attending for the first time as president
• First Lady Melania Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and hundreds journalists, media personalities and government officials were also there
• A suspected gunman ran into the hotel foyer, trying to get past security officers and metal detectors, at about 00:35 GMT
• Loud bangs were heard, prompting security service personnel to immediately escort the president and other officials from the venue
• Hundreds of guests stayed behind for about an hour before the ballroom was cleared
• Trump shared images and a video of the suspect on social media
• Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is reportedly the suspect
• Allen is expected to be charged on Monday with several offences, including using a firearm during a crime of violence
• Trump told reporters afterwards, "I can't imagine any professions that are more dangerous" when reflecting on several shooting attempts over the past three years

Gary O’Donoghue
Chief North America Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

I had just put my knife and fork down, and almost didn't notice the booming sounds coming from somewhere in front of me in the direction of the main entrance to the ballroom at the Washington Hilton.

I did a kind of audio double take.

Within moments, I thought – that is the low thudding sound that semi-automatic weapons make.

As someone who is blind I focus on the sounds, and I heard the shattering of glass.

Then I felt the head of my colleague, Daniel, who I had just been speaking to, brush past and I realised he was diving for the floor.

So I followed him.

I was on my knees, under the table cloth, almost certain that here I was, another Saturday night, another presidential event, and in the midst of yet another shooting.

I was there in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024 when the president came within inches of losing his life.

The moments after that were filled with screaming and running people.

This time was different as within seconds, we were under the table.

Another colleague told me how, as the shots rang out, he saw dozens of people running into the ballroom from the corridor outside.

Read more of Gary O'Donoughe's piece here.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
White House reporter

Christian Turner, the British ambassador to the United States, has just posted a "thank you" message for the US Secret Service.

Turner was at the event, as were other British embassy staffers.

"The @UKinUSA team attending tonight's White House Correspondents Dinner are grateful for the swift and professional response of the Secret Service," Turner wrote.

"We are thankful that the President and those in attendance were unharmed & our best wishes are with the injured officer," he added.

As we've reported, the guest list included numerous politicians, diplomats, celebrities and other prominent figures.