United States President Donald Trump was evacuated after gunshots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on Saturday.

Trump, his family and others participating in the event were unharmed, but one security officer was injured, said US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The suspect has been taken into custody, Trump said. The identity of the man and his motives were unclear.

AP quoted two unidentified law enforcement officials as saying that the person had been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.

The event was taking place at the Washington Hilton ballroom. Videos widely shared on social media showed several journalists and guests ducking under tables after loud bangs were heard.

The videos also showed the US Secret Service personnel, who are tasked with protecting the president and his family, drawing their guns and evacuating Trump out of the hall.

The gunman was not seen in the initial videos posted online and it was unclear if the shots had been fired inside the hall.

Hours after the incident, Trump told reporters that the man had charged at a security checkpoint inside the lobby of the hotel with “multiple weapons”. The suspect “charged from 50 yards away”, the president added.

Trump posted on social media a security camera video of the suspect running past security personnel and a photo of the person being detained.

The man appeared to be acting alone and is a “very sick person”, Trump told reporters.

The man was being interrogated and more details would be provided soon, he added.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said that the agency was investigating the incident. He urged citizens to provide any information they may have about the suspect.

The security officer who was injured was taken to hospital, officials said.

Vice President JD Vance and other members of the administration were also present at the event.

Shortly after the incident, Trump had said on social media that he had recommended that the event should go on. However, in another post just minutes later, he said that it would be rescheduled.

“Quite an evening in DC,” he said. “Secret Service and law enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.”

“The First Lady [Melania Trump], plus the vice president, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was “relieved to learn” that Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vance were safe. “Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned”, Modi said on social media.