Donald Trump was rushed to safety after gunshots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
The suspect was taken into custody by the Secret Service - here's how the evening unfolded
One Secret Service officer was shot at very close range, but was saved by his bullet-proof vest, Trump says after returning to the White House
The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, US media report - he is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday
Allen tells authorities he was targeting Trump officials, CBS reports - police have said earlier that the suspect's motive remains unknown
Law enforcement has been searching an address in Torrance, California believed to be linked to the suspected gunman
"We all crawled under our table for what felt like a long time," writes a BBC journalist at the dinner
Buckingham 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.
The alleged shooter who 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.
Image source, 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:
Image source, 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".
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.
Gary O’Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent
The 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.
Image source, 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.
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 REUTERSAn 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.
Image source, ReutersBefore the shots rang out, Donald Trump was seated next to US First Lady Melania Trump and Weijia Jiang, President of the White House Correspondents' Association
Image source, ReutersTrump is rushed off stage by Secret Service agents as heavily armed officers survey the scene
Image source, ReutersAttendees - including House Speaker Mike Johnson - are taken out of the ballroom
Image source, @realDonaldTrump/ Truth SocialTrump later releases a photo of a handcuffed man laying on the floor surrounded by Secret Service agents, saying this is the alleged gunman
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesStill in their ball gowns and tuxedos, many of the dinner guests - who are journalists - head over to the White House's Press Briefing room to receive an update from Trump
Image source, EPA/ShutterstockFBI and other law enforcement teams search a property in Torrance, California, believed to be linked to the suspect
Image source, Jeff Overs/BBCChief 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.
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, ReutersTrump during his rally in July 2024, after he was shot in an attempted assasination
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, ReutersWe 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 ImagesLeaders 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, ReutersUK 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.
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".
"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 TrumpPhoto of the suspect in custody, shared by 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.
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.
