White House on Alert After Reports of Multiple Gunshots Near Presidential Grounds Merca2.0
17:25
Tense moments unfolded Saturday afternoon near the White House after multiple journalists and local media outlets reported hearing what sounded like dozens of gunshots close to the presidential complex.
Following the incident, agents from the United States Secret Service quickly secured the area surrounding the White House and moved members of the press to protected zones inside the compound while authorities investigated the source of the reported shooting.
According to American networks including ABC News, NBC and CNN, several correspondents claimed they heard between 20 and 30 gunshots coming from the area near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, just steps from the White House grounds.
Journalists rushed into secure areas
The situation created panic among reporters who were covering events outside the White House at the time. Security personnel instructed journalists to immediately move into the White House briefing room as a precautionary measure.
One of the most widely shared moments came from Selina Wang, a White House correspondent for ABC News, who was recording a social media video when the sounds of apparent gunfire erupted nearby.
In footage shared online, Wang can be seen abruptly stopping her recording and dropping to the ground as the loud noises continued in the background.
Other reporters described hearing rapid bursts of shots while heavily armed Secret Service agents moved across the North Lawn and blocked several access points around the media area.
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Donald Trump was inside the White House
At the time of the reported incident, Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House meeting with senior officials.
Earlier in the day, Trump had posted on Truth Social regarding diplomatic negotiations involving Iran and several Middle Eastern countries, claiming progress toward a possible international agreement.
So far, officials have not indicated that the president was directly threatened during the situation.
FBI joins investigation near presidential complex
Anthony Guglielmi, chief communications officer for the Secret Service, confirmed that federal authorities are actively investigating reports of gunfire in the vicinity of the White House.
Meanwhile, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel stated that FBI agents were assisting Secret Service personnel in responding to the incident and securing the surrounding area.
Images distributed by international agencies showed a heavy police presence, including armed officers, patrol vehicles and tactical units moving throughout the streets around the presidential complex.
No injuries confirmed so far
As of now, authorities have not confirmed injuries, arrests or the exact origin of the reported gunfire.
Several streets surrounding the White House remain under heightened security while federal agencies continue gathering information about what triggered the emergency response near one of the most heavily protected locations in the world.
The investigation remains ongoing and additional updates are expected from U.S. authorities in the coming hours.
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