Former US President Barack Obama condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Sunday, stressing that violence has no place in a democratic society and praising the response of security personnel.In a post on Twitter, Obama said, “While we have yet to learn the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, it is incumbent upon all of us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy.” He added, “It is also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that American Secret Service agents show every day. I am grateful to them – and grateful that the agent who was shot will recover.“The incident occurred during the annual event on Sunday, which was attended by US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials.A man armed with a gun and a knife stormed the lobby outside the venue Saturday night and headed into the ballroom in a chaotic encounter with Secret Service agents as guests ducked under tables after hearing gunshots. The shooting occurred just outside a large underground ballroom where thousands of people were in attendance, disrupting the event minutes after it began, the AP reported.Trump was not injured and was escorted off the stage. The suspect, who authorities said was a guest at the Washington Hilton, was taken into custody and is expected to appear in court on Monday. Police believe he acted alone but have not identified a motive or intended target.Trump later said at the White House, “When you’re influential, they go after you. When you’re not influential, they leave you alone.” He said authorities believed the attacker was a “lone wolf.” He also said he hoped the event would be rescheduled within 30 days, even though the breach raised questions about security arrangements.White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang described the episode as a “distressing moment” and praised the quick response of US Secret Service and law enforcement personnel.According to Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanch, the suspect fired “a few shots” before being subdued, adding that he “barely made it past the perimeter”.A Secret Service officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot and is recovering, officials said. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was not injured but was taken to the hospital for evaluation. He faces two firearms-related charges, including assault on an officer with a deadly weapon.
