by Sebastian Smith
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secret Service agents shot and wounded a man who was apparently armed outside the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump said just after being briefly evacuated in the middle of a press conference.
As the president was speaking to reporters in the White House briefing room, a Secret Service bodyguard abruptly approached him and interrupted, saying in a quiet voice, “Sir, could you please come with me?”
Trump and staff members left. Doors to the briefing room, still filled with journalists, were locked.
Outside, black-clad Secret Service agents with automatic rifles could be seen rushing across the lawn and took up positions behind trees. According to Fox News, whose camera team was outside, two shots were heard.
Minutes later, Trump reappeared at the press conference and announced that someone had been shot by the Secret Service outside the White House grounds.
“Law enforcement shot someone, it seems to be the suspect. And the suspect is on the way to the hospital,” he said.
The Secret Service later tweeted that “a male subject” had been taken to hospital, along with an agent after “an officer involved shooting” at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue — one block from the White House.
Rattled?
Trump, a Republican who faces a tough and bitterly divisive election on November 3, said he knew nothing about the identity or motives of the person shot. “It might not have had anything to do with me,” he said.
There was no immediate precise information on what sort of threat the person allegedly posed.
But when asked if the person had been armed, Trump answered: “From what I understand, the answer is yes.”
Trump said the incident took place “on the outside” of the White House perimeter, which is currently being reinforced by a new iron fence twice the height of the previous version.
“I don’t believe anything was breached, they were relatively far away,” he added.
The Secret Service said that “at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger.”
Returning to the podium after the disruption, Trump appeared calm.
He resumed his virulent criticism of opposition Democrats and praise for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, which polls show two-thirds of Americans believe he has botched.
Questioned whether the security incident had rattled him, Trump answered: “I don’t know, do I seem rattled?”
“It’s unfortunate that this is the world, but the world’s always been a dangerous place,” he said.
‘Screaming’
Philipos Melaku, one of a small group of veteran protesters who camp out near the White House, said he had heard a shot.
“I heard a gunshot and before that I heard screaming,” he told AFP.
“It was a male voice,” he said.
“After that immediately, pointing their AR-15s, at least eight or nine men came in running.”
Trump went on to praise the US Secret Service, which is in charge of guarding the president, as “fantastic people, the best of the best.”
“I feel very safe with Secret Service,” he said. “A lot of terrific looking people ready to go if something was necessary.”
© Agence France-Presse
