Questions raised about political violence, security and gun control after brazen attack at event attended by top officials

• White House press dinner shooting aftermath – latest updates

A stunned Washington faced searching questions about political violence and gun control on Sunday after shots were fired at a prestigious media gala attended by Donald Trump and senior White House officials.

A man targeted a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel the previous night before being tackled and arrested. Trump and Melania Trump were rushed out of the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner as guests dived for cover under tables.

Acting attorney general says suspect was believed to have been targeting top Trump administration officials

• White House press dinner shooting aftermath – latest updates

The gunman who tried to breach the ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night is believed to have been targeting Donald Trump and senior members of his administration, the acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, said on Sunday, although his exact motive has not yet become clear.

The suspect, who is in custody after being subdued by members of law enforcement as he rushed through the hotel venue, could be charged with trying to assassinate the US president, Blanche said.

Leaders of Canada, Mexico and Australia denounce political violence and voice their appreciation that Donald Trump and guests at correspondents dinner are unharmed

• Washington Hilton shooting – what we know so far

• Full report: Suspect in custody after Trump evacuated in shooting incident

Leaders from around the world have condemned an act of “political violence” and expressed relief that US president Donald Trump, officials and journalists were unharmed after a shooting incident at the White House correspondents dinner.

Donald and Melania Trump, as well as members of the US cabinet, were evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday after gunshots could be heard from the hotel lobby.

Lawmakers and reporters in shock after Washington press event abruptly ends following gunshots

• Trump evacuated after shots fired at White House correspondents’ dinner – what we know

• White House correspondents’ dinner – latest updates

Lawmakers and journalists were in shock after a Washington media tradition turned violent on Saturday night, halting the White House correspondents’ dinner while the first course of burrata and greens sat on their plates.

“We thought that some of the plates for the dinner fell, and next thing you know, we all went under the table screaming,” said Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman who was among the 2,000 attendees gathered to celebrate press freedom. It was the first time that Donald Trump chose to attend the annual Washington event.

President and other top leaders evacuated from annual dinner after shots fired

• Suspect in custody after Trump evacuated in shooting incident

• White House correspondents’ dinner shooting – what we know

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CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said he was within a few feet of the shooter, and called into CNN to describe his observations.

Blitzer said he saw “a very, very serious weapon. He starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him. As he was shooting, of course, the first thing that went through my mind: is he trying to shoot me? And I don’t think he was trying to shoot me, but I was very close to him as the gunshots were fired and he was very, very scary. But I’m OK, now.”