Sean Hannity, the Fox News anchor, reportedly pulled a gun on a liberal commentator after a heated interview on the news channel.

The journalist dismissed the story on Twitter and the network also played down the story, saying "no one was put in any danger".

Three sources with knowledge of the incident, which occurred in October last year, told CNN that Hannity pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at Juan Williams after an on-air argument with the liberal contributor.

He turned on the laser sight, causing a red dot to bob around on Williams' body, they said, adding that while Hannity was just showing off, the behaviour "disturbed Williams an others on set".