US police responding to dozens of shots fired near White House

BREAKING, Secret Service investigating reported gunfire, with Al Jazeera correspondent saying more than 30 shots heard from the North Lawn.US law enforcement agencies are responding to reports of more than 30 gunshots fired near the White House.A suspect is “down” and was transported to George Washington Hospital, an unnamed law enforcement official told Reuters news agency on Saturday. He did not ⁠specify the suspect’s condition ⁠or how he was brought down.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US deepens European uncertainty with deployment of 5,000 troops to Polandlist 2 of 4Why is Trump deploying 5,000 troops to Poland?list 3 of 4US Secretary of State kicks off India visit, invites Modi to White Houselist 4 of 4‘United States of the Middle East?’: Trump posts US flag covering Iranend of listThe Associated Press reported the Secret Service shot a person near the White House and a bystander also was shot, an unidentified law enforcement official said.Both individuals were said to be in critical condition, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time. Police cordoned off access to the White House, and National Guard troops blocked reporters from entering the area in downtown Washington, DC.Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, DC, said more than 30 shots were heard from the White House North Lawn.“The White House is now surrounded by multiple emergency vehicles and agencies. We understand the president was in the Oval Office at the time. The shots were fired outside the White House, but the White House has not confirmed or let anyone know about the president’s condition at this time.”Journalists who were on the White House North Lawn at the time said they were ordered to run and shelter in the press briefing room.“While this has not been confirmed by the White House, bystanders and US media report a suspect approached the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue,” reported Halkett.