US President Donald Trump described the man who attempted to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner on Sunday as a ‘Christian hater’ and a ‘sick man’, as investigators pieced together a motive behind the high-profile security breach in Washington.Speaking after the incident, Trump said the suspect had written a manifesto expressing hostility toward Christians. “That man is a sick man,” he said. “When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians.” He also claimed that the suspect’s family members had previously raised concerns with authorities and called him a “very troubled man.”Trump also claimed that the suspect’s own family had previously raised concerns. “Actually his sister or his brother were complaining about it … they were even complaining to law enforcement. He was a very troubled man,” Trump said.
What happened at the dinner venue?
The incident occurred outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was taking place. According to officials, the suspect attempted to breach the security check near the entrance and headed towards the venue.During the confrontation shots were fired and a Secret Service officer was shot at close range, but survived because of a bulletproof vest. Security personnel immediately subdued the suspect and prevented him from entering the ballroom, where Trump and other senior officials were present.The situation caused chaos inside the venue, the guests were evacuated to a safe place and the President was taken to a safe place. The event was later canceled and is expected to be rescheduled.
Who is the suspect?
Law enforcement officials have identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of California.Authorities said Allen attempted to breach security at the Washington Hilton, where the annual media event was being held. He was armed with multiple weapons and is believed to have acted alone.Trump described him as a ‘lone wolf’ and a ‘very troubled’ person. Investigators said Allen had traveled to several states before arriving in Washington and checked into the hotel hosting the event. He reportedly had several weapons at the time of the incident and is believed to have purchased them recently. Officials also said that he is not actively cooperating in the investigation and is likely to face multiple charges.
Trump praised security response
Trump praised the actions of the Secret Service and law enforcement personnel, saying they acted quickly to neutralize the threat. He described them as ‘strong, solid people’ and said that he ‘stopped them’.“They stopped him and there was no game being played that I can tell you about. You just watch them. These were strong, solid guys who had to get paid. Trump said, “The Democrats have withheld their salaries and I think maybe now they will relax a little bit.” In his remarks, Trump reflected on the dangers associated with political leadership and suggested that leaders with high influence are more likely to be targeted. “I’ve studied murders,” he said. Referring to figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Trump said that ‘the most influential people… are those who follow others.’He said, “I’ve studied murders… the most influential people, the people who commit the most murders – those are the ones they go after.” He said being a ‘consequence president’ increases the risk and highlighted that his family had expressed concerns after the incident. “They told me, ‘You have a dangerous job,'” he shared.Authorities are continuing to examine the suspect’s writings, electronic devices and activities to determine the full extent of his intentions. Initial findings suggest that he may have been targeting members of the administration, including the President.
