Gunfire erupts near White House; Trump was inside

WASHINGTON SEOUL=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Sung-min, Reporter Lee Shin-young = Dozens of gunshots rang out near the White House on the 23rd (local time).

Notably, President Donald Trump of the United States was staying at the White House at the time of the incident, and agents from the Secret Service (SS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as police officers, have cordoned off the scene and are investigating the circumstances.

According to CNN, an SS official stated that they received a report of gunshots at around 6 p.m. near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW on the outskirts of the White House complex and are investigating.

CNN reported that its own reporters also heard gunshots near the White House, and the press corps, who were on the North Lawn of the White House at the time, were urgently evacuated to the briefing room.

One reporter said the gunshots seemed to have come from the direction of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building within the White House complex.

The SS subsequently issued a temporary lockdown of the White House and ordered journalists outside the building to evacuate.

A NewsNation reporter said, "I heard 25 to 30 consecutive gunshots," adding, "SS agents evacuated us to the briefing room. They shouted, 'Active shooter! Get down!' and brought us here (the briefing room) as quickly as possible."

The SS Public Affairs Office posted on X (formerly Twitter), "We are aware of reports of a shooting incident at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW and are working with on-site personnel to confirm information." "We will provide additional information as it becomes available."

FBI Director Kash Patel also wrote on X, "The FBI has responded to the scene and is assisting the SS in responding to the shooting incident near the White House." "We will release additional information as it becomes available."

While federal agencies such as the SS and FBI have not disclosed specific details of the incident, Fox News reported that the shooter fired three shots from a handgun toward the White House, and SS agents responded with gunfire, neutralizing the shooter.

Reuters quoted a law enforcement official as saying, "The suspect approached a checkpoint near the White House and fired at police officers." "The suspect was apprehended and transported to the hospital. There were no injuries among law enforcement officers."

U.S. media reported that President Trump was unharmed. However, it was reported that a pedestrian at the scene was shot and transported to a nearby hospital, with their specific condition unconfirmed.

Shooting incidents have occurred frequently near the White House recently. On the 4th, a suspect armed with a firearm fired at law enforcement officers at an intersection southeast of the Washington Monument, not far from the White House, leading to an exchange of fire as officers returned fire.

On the 25th of last month, an assailant armed with a shotgun, pistol, and knife rushed through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the White House Correspondents' Association dinner was being held, and was subdued by authorities shortly after passing through.

President Trump was in attendance at the dinner at the time but was safely evacuated.