Pakistan’s leaders on Sunday condemned the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington in which US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump were escorted away by the Secret Service after a shooter sought access.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the incident, saying that he “condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”
He said he was pleased that President Trump, and the First Lady had escaped unharmed and that it was a terrible terrorist act.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed condolences, saying he was “deeply shocked” by the attack.
He said he was happy that Trump, the First Lady, and others had not been harmed and that he prayed for their safety.
US officials said the attacker, who was armed with a shotgun, fired at a Secret Service agent.
Reuters quoted an FBI official as saying the agent was hit by shrapnel in a part of his body covered by body armour and was not harmed.
All federal officials, including the president, have been accounted for, according to authorities.
Trump and his family were immediately rushed from the venue and approximately an hour later, he tweeted that the assailant had been captured.
He thanked the Secret Service and police for their quick actions, later stating that the First Lady, Vice President and Cabinet were all “in perfect condition”.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the Secret Service is looking into the shooting near main screening in the entrance of the Washington Hilton, famous for the 1981 attempt to assassinate former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Authorities are still looking into the shooter’s reasons and circumstances for the shooting.
Also read: Trump posts photos of White House correspondents’ dinner suspect
