Trump says shooting likely unrelated to Iran war; suspect identified in White House incident

US President Donald Trump has said the recent shooting incident is unlikely to be connected to the ongoing war involving Iran, although he acknowledged investigators are still examining the motive.

Speaking at a press conference earlier, Trump said, “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know.” However, he also noted that “you never know” and confirmed that authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack.

Separately, US media outlets including The New York Times and CBS News identified the suspected gunman as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen.

The incident is linked to a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, where armed assailant Allen allegedly attempted to breach security before being apprehended by Secret Service agents. One officer was injured but survived due to a bulletproof vest.

Trump, who was evacuated along with senior officials, later described the suspect as a “lone wolf” and a “would-be assassin,” while suggesting there was no clear evidence connecting the attack to Iran-related tensions.

Authorities said Allen was armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun and knives, and acted alone. Investigations into the motive are ongoing.

Source: Al Jazeera