A United States Secret Service agent avoided serious injury when a bullet was partially stopped by his mobile phone during an armed incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, according to reports.
The incident took place at the Washington Hilton, where Donald Trump and Melania Trump were among high-profile attendees, alongside senior US officials.
Video footage shows an armed man rushing towards the area near metal detectors in the hotel lobby before firing at least one shot. The bullet struck the agent’s body armour.
According to a preliminary account cited by The Atlantic, the phone carried by the agent helped absorb part of the impact, reducing the risk of injury.
The agent, whose identity has not been made public, was taken to hospital following the incident and has since been released.
Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said the protective equipment “likely helped prevent a potential tragedy”.
Source: huffingtonpost.gr