'Take cover' - Eyewitness Catriona Perry on US shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner

As RTÉ News reports from Ireland, our Chief Anchor Caitríona Perry has provided a harrowing eyewitness account of a shooting incident that disrupted the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Perry, who was present at the event, described the sudden descent into chaos as Secret Service agents, guns drawn, commanded guests to take cover.

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Everybody take cover.

Her testimony paints a vivid picture of the moments following the commotion: the sound of breaking glass, tables overturning, and the urgent shouts of agents evacuating President Trump and other high-profile attendees. Perry noted the muffled sound of shots fired outside the dining room, which added to the confusion and fear, leaving guests uncertain about the extent of the danger.

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There was kind of a kerfuffle of breaking glass and crockery and tables being knocked over.

Perry's account highlights the palpable tension and fear that gripped the room. The uncertainty of whether the gunman was inside or outside, the presence of heavily armed law enforcement, and the sheer unexpectedness of the event created a deeply unsettling atmosphere. She conveyed the guests' initial terror, juxtaposed against the expected celebratory nature of the evening.

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I'm sure some people were terrified because it's not what you expect when you're in your finery and starting into the first course of a dinner, expecting this night of celebration and party ahead of you.

From our perspective at RTÉ, this incident is deeply concerning, not just for the immediate danger it posed but as a stark reminder of the volatile political climate in the United States. Perry's observation that 'it's a very, very divided country right now... particularly in the political world, it's very, very tense' resonates strongly. While international media often focus on the political implications, for us in Ireland, it's a moment to reflect on the safety of journalists and public figures in such high-profile events and the underlying societal divisions that can lead to such violence.

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It's a very, very divided country right now... Particularly in the political world, it's very, very tense.