Gunshots rang out near the White House on Saturday evening, drawing a heavy response from federal law enforcement and security personnel to the area.
The FBI, Secret Service, and police descended on the vicinity as AFP journalists on the ground reported the incident. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time, working on negotiations with Iran when the shooting occurred.
Security forces moved quickly to lock down the area. Police cordoned off access points to the White House while National Guard troops blocked journalists and other personnel from entering the grounds. The response was swift and comprehensive, with multiple agencies coordinating to secure the perimeter.
Journalists who were working on the North Lawn at the moment of the incident said they were ordered to evacuate immediately. They ran for cover and sheltered inside the White House press briefing room as security personnel took control of the area. The exact nature of the shots and whether anyone was injured remained unclear as authorities investigated.
No further details about the incident have been released by officials as of the time of reporting.
