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US President Donald Trump was escorted out of a news conference after secret service agents shot and wounded a man who claimed to be outside the White House.
The secret service said the incident happened one block from the connection, when an officer fired at the suspect who ran ‘aggressively’ towards him.
An agent then walked onto the stage when Mr. Trump spoke and led him away.
The president returned minutes later to say that the situation was under control.
The U.S. Secret Service said the incident happened Monday on the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave – outside the Perimeter of the White House.
It said a 51-year-old man, who was not identified, approached the officer, told him he had weapons and adopted a ‘shooter attitude’, after which the officer shot him in the torso.
The secret service did not say if the man was armed. It added that “both the officer and the suspect were then taken to the hospital”, and that “at no time during this incident was the White House complex being broken into”.
After Mr. Trump and his staff left, doors to the briefing room were locked with the journalists inside.
When the president returned nine minutes later, he said, “Legislation kills one, it seems to be the suspect.”
He said he did not know if the person had ill intentions against him.
“It might have had nothing to do with me,” the president said.
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Reuters
An agent walked onto the stage and whispered in President Trump’s ear during the briefing
A journalist asked Mr. Trump if he was rattled by the events. He replied, “Do I look like rattling?”
The president added: “It is unfortunate that this is the world, but the world has always been a dangerous place. It is not something unique.”
The District of Columbia Fire Department said a man had serious as many critical injuries as possible, according to the Associated Press.
The news agency also reported that authorities were investigating whether the individual had a background of mental illness.
