Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis condemned an attack at a White House correspondents’ dinner attended by US President Donald Trump, calling it a reminder that violence has no place in democratic societies.
In a social media post, Mitsotakis said, “The attack at the White House correspondents’ dinner is a stark reminder that violence has no place in democracy.”
He added that it was “a relief that the President of the United States, the First Lady and all those attending are safe, but such incidents can never be tolerated. The protection of democratic institutions is non-negotiable.”
The incident occurred Saturday night when an armed man with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner charging toward the ballroom in a chaotic encounter with Secret Service agents as guests dived under tables at the sound of shots being fired.
Trump was uninjured and was rushed off the stage. The armed man, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, was taken into custody and was expected in court Monday.
Police believe he opened fire and acted alone but did not say who was his intended target or describe a motive. [Kathimerini/AP]