WASHINGTON: There was an attack on former US President Donald Trump. Trump was attacked during a rally in Pennsylvania. The assailant opened fire while Trump was addressing the public. He was reportedly shot on his right ear and the bullet pierced a part of it. Trump's face is clearly visible in the pictures and videos that have been released.
The attack took place during an election meeting in the city of Butler in the state of Pennsylvania at around 3:30 a.m. Indian time on Sunday. It was a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks (20) who fired the shot from the roof of a nearby building while Trump was speaking at the venue. The shooter was shot dead by security forces. Another person was killed in the firing by the assailant.
‘I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,’ Trump not seriously injured said on his Truth Social site.
Security forces immediately removed him from the spot. Trump is safe and has been taken to a nearby hospital, his spokesman Steven Cheung said. There are also reports that the suspect who fired at Trump and a rally attendee have also died. Another participant in the rally was seriously injured.
#WATCH | Gunfire at Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania (USA). He was escorted to a vehicle by the US Secret Service
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2024
"The former President is safe and further information will be released when available' says the US Secret Service.
(Source - Reuters) pic.twitter.com/289Z7ZzxpX
The attack took place during a rally held at 6.15 pm (local time) on Saturday. He was shot soon after addressing the public. The assailant opened fire from a building near the rally. It is reported that the assailant shot eight times. The security officials said that it will be clear only after the investigation whether there was an assassination attempt. Further information about the attacker is also unclear.
The head of the assailant was shot by the security forces. His identity documents are being verified.
International media reported that this is the first assassination attempt on a president or presidential candidate in the United States since the attack on Ronald Reagan in 1981.