Trump: What is known about the attack at a rally in which the former president was slightly injured and the shooter was killed by the Secret Service
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The suspect in the attack on former President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Pennsylvania was killed by authorities this Saturday.
Secret Service agents shot the man, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
The man was armed with a rifle on the outskirts of the cordoned off area of the rally, about 200 metres from the stage where the Republican presidential candidate, who was slightly wounded in the ear, was delivering a speech.
Two sources told the BBC’s US affiliate CBS that the attacker was apparently standing on an elevated structure, believed to be a shed.
One audience member also died.
“The attacker fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated location outside the campaign site,” the Secret Service, which is in charge of protecting the former president and Republican candidate in the November 5 election, said in a statement.
He added: “The Secret Service shot the attacker, who died…) One bystander was killed and two were seriously injured.” All three were men.
The incident is being investigated as attempted murder.
He The FBIThose in charge of the investigation have not yet provided details about a possible motive.
Roars were heard while the former president was speaking to thousands of fellow religious believers at an outdoor event. He was seen rapidly touching one ear and bending down.
Members of his security force rushed in to rescue him and later took him out of there.
When he was pulled out, he had blood on his face, and he raised his fist towards the audience before being escorted out.
Trump is safe and steps have been taken for his security.
“I was shot by a bullet that passed through the top of my right ear,” the Republican said in a statement.
He added, “When I heard the whistling sound, the gunfire, I immediately knew something was wrong and immediately felt the bullets ripping through my skin.”
He concluded, “There was a lot of blood and then I realized what was going on.”
CBS and multiple witnesses said the attacker was armed with a rifle and opened fire from an elevated structure about 600 feet away from Trump and outside the event’s security perimeter.
George Bivens of the Pennsylvania Police said officers at the scene acted “heroically” and there was no reason to believe there was still a threat.
image Source, Getty Images
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