King Charles' security during his upcoming US state visit is being taken 'very seriously' after a gunman opened fire at a Washington DC dinner attended by Donald Trump.
There was chaos at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday (April 25) night. US President Trump was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents, along with other senior members of the administration.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are due in the US this week for a state visit, which will see them meet with Trump.
Government Response
Sir Keir Starmer sent a message of solidarity to Trump after the incident, according to Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones. He told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'These are remarkable scenes. The Prime Minister has, this morning, sent a message to the president of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place.'
'As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.'
Security Concerns
Asked if there are any extra concerns for the King's safety during the state visit that begins on Monday, Mr Jones said: 'As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.'
Sir Keir said he was 'shocked' by the incident overnight. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Prime Minister said: 'Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.'
When asked about the incident and any impact on the trip, Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on security matters.
Details of the Incident
The suspect said to be behind the latest incident was reportedly carrying a shotgun and handgun. He has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. It is understood he was a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was being held.
He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon - but acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed. One officer who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest was taken to hospital.
Trump posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention. He vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had 'unified' political opponents and the media. It was the first time he was attending the annual dinner as president.
Trump said: 'My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.' Washington mayor Muriel Bowser said she had 'no reason' to believe anyone else was involved.
