Security vulnerabilities exposed here, full details of Allen's attack revealed

From the New York Post: The gunman who opened fire at an event attended by Trump is identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31 years old, and has been hospitalized for treatment.

AP report: The shooting incident left one U.S. Secret Service agent injured; specific details about the victim’s injuries have not yet been disclosed.

Late-night volunteer Helen Mabbs, present at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, revealed that the suspect most likely assembled a long firearm in a poorly secured area near the terrace entrance before opening fire and rushing toward the banquet hall.

Mabbs stated that there was a temporary storage room adjacent to the entrance, filled with bar carts, which had no security personnel on duty at the time of the incident.

She recalled to CNN: "The suspect entered that room... took out components from his backpack or similar container and assembled a weapon," adding that the firearm had a notably long barrel and did not resemble any standard-issue conventional gun.

Mabbs emphasized that the suspect was completely out of security surveillance while assembling the weapon inside the storage room; afterward, he suddenly charged toward the main event venue, finished assembling the firearm, and ran toward the staircase leading to the banquet hall. Immediately thereafter, the shooter began firing indiscriminately, causing guests and staff to panic and flee.

"He seemed to be firing randomly in all directions," Mabbs estimated she heard at least ten gunshots.

The sudden gunfire triggered widespread panic throughout the venue, with people screaming and fleeing. U.S. Secret Service agents and all armed security personnel responded immediately, swiftly taking action to neutralize the threat and restore safety.

CNN senior law enforcement analyst Andrew McCabe noted that the White House Correspondents' Dinner hosted at the Washington Hilton hotel routinely draws numerous high-ranking government officials, making it a top-tier security event—nearly equivalent to national security-level protection standards. He added that prior to the incident, the U.S. Secret Service had conducted extensive joint security coordination with various other security agencies.

White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting Incident

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863583887100940/

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