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Shooting at Trump rally: Former president injured in attack on rally that kills bystander and shooter | US news

Theo

Donald Trump was shot and injured in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally; a bystander and the shooter were killed.

The former president escaped with a gunshot wound to the ear. The attack occurred early Saturday evening. the former president gave a speech to supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Latest news on the shooting: Trump releases statement after attempted murder

Mr Trump was seen ducking to the ground as a series of shots rang out and people screamed in panic.

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Hear what the Secret Service said to Trump

He was mobbed by the Secret Service, who were trying to protect him, and as he was dragged from the stage to a waiting armored car with a bloody ear, Trump defiantly raised his fist in the air and shouted “fight” as the cheering crowd chanted “USA.”

The Secret Service said that in addition to one person being killed in the crowd, two other people were seriously injured after the gunman fired “multiple shots” from an “elevated position” outside the rally site.

The FBI has named the attacker – shot and killed by security forces – as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who, according to state records, was a registered Republican.

Footage from the crime scene showed a factory building with a white roof about 150 meters from where Trump was speaking. a body and a gun on top.

Donald Trump after the assassination attempt. Image: Getty
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Image: Getty

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On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump wrote that he had been “struck by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear”.

He said: “I knew immediately something was wrong because I heard a hiss, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet go through my skin,” he wrote on social media.

“There was a lot of bleeding, so I realized what was happening.”

Read more:
“Pop Pop Pop” – Witnesses describe the moment of the shooting
In pictures: Gunman fires multiple shots at Trump rally

He added: “I would like to thank the US intelligence community and all law enforcement agencies for their quick response.”

He expressed his condolences to the families of the other victims and said: “It is unbelievable that something like this can happen in our country.”

Image: AP
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Secret service agents storm the stage. Image: AP
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Police snipers return fire after Trump was shot. Image: AP
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Image: AP

After being examined at a local medical facility, Mr Trump flew back to New Jersey, where he was photographed briefly waving as he exited his plane.

His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said his father was in “a great mood.”

The attack was the most serious assassination attempt on a president or presidential candidate since the assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981.

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Trump was seen waving briefly as he left his plane in New Jersey

President Joe Bidenwho spoke to his rival in the White House after the attack, condemned the shooting and said there was “no place for this kind of violence in America”.

In an address to the nation, he said: “It’s sick. Sick.”

“We cannot allow this to happen.”

Assassination attempt on Trump is an opportunity for political restart

The first questions, of course, revolve around the incident itself: the perpetrator, the motive and the method. And not to forget: How on earth could this have happened?

This is hard to believe for anyone who has ever attended a Trump rally and seen the security wall separating the man from the crowd. The agents tasked with protecting Donald Trump, whether Secret Service or not, are now facing questioning for fundamental failures in the performance of their duties.

By allowing a former and possibly future president to become the target of a sniper, he himself is being held accountable for actions that resulted in death, even if not in the primary target.

After the shooting, an eyewitness told media microphones that he was surprised it had not happened sooner. He is not alone in a country that is plagued by subtle political violence.

Read the rest of James’ analysis

The Biden team said it would suspend all messaging to its supporters and withdraw all television ads as soon as possible.

Many Republicans quickly sought to blame Biden and his allies for the violence, arguing that the attacks on Trump, which posed a threat to democracy, had created a toxic climate.

They highlighted a July 8 comment Biden made to donors in which he said, “It’s time to target Trump.”

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Body of gunman found after shooting on roof

Former President Barack Obama wrote on X: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.”

“While we do not yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump was not seriously injured and use this moment to recommit ourselves to decency and respect in our politics.

“Michelle and I wish him a speedy recovery.”

An extraordinary moment in deeply troubling times

This is truly an extraordinary moment. It is shocking to witness.

It is difficult to predict at this point what the impact will be and what the consequences will be for America and its fractious politics. But these are deeply troubling times.

The news channels broadcast Donald Trump’s speech live. It was just 6:15 p.m. on a hot evening in Pennsylvania.

Then two bangs. The former president raises his hand to his ear. He now knows what is going on.

As he falls to the ground behind the podium, a volley of shots rings out.

Then Secret Service agents appear on the stage, surround him and shield him.

The microphone on the podium captured the chaos. “Shooters downed… movement, movement.”

I saw it live. What state Trump was in, hiding behind the podium, was not clear at that moment.

Then he showed up, disheveled and with a bleeding right ear. He was loaded into an armored car and driven away.

It was a textbook example of Secret Service action. As a former president, Trump is under the Secret Service’s 24/7 protection, and the Secret Service trains for exactly this kind of event.

Read the rest of Mark’s analysis

His predecessor George W. Bush called the shooting a “cowardly attack” on Trump’s life.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on X: “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and send our best wishes to him and his family.

“Political violence in any form has no place in our society and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”

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Biden: “We can’t be like that”

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu wrote: “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump. We pray for his safety and a speedy recovery.”

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