‘Violence has no place in democracy’: Narendra Modi reacts after Donald Trump shooting scare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reacted to the shooting incident at a White House event in Washington attended by US President Donald Trump, expressing relief that the President, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were “safe and unharmed.”

Extending his wishes for their continued safety and well-being, Modi said that “violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.”

His remarks came hours after Trump and other senior officials were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner venue following a shooting incident.

What we know so far

The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, according to law enforcement officials cited by the Associated Press.

While there were no immediate reports of serious injuries, authorities confirmed that a gunman opened fire, triggering a swift security response.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the suspect is in custody, with its Washington field office leading the investigation.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the accused is facing preliminary charges related to firearm use and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon. She added that further charges are likely as investigators gather more details, describing the situation as “very fluid.”

Pirro also said the suspect is expected to be produced in federal district court on Monday as legal proceedings begin.

Police said the accused was carrying multiple weapons at the time of the incident, underscoring the seriousness of the security breach.