Donald Trump has been evacuated from a rally in the state of Pennsylvania after what appears to have been an assassination attempt. The alleged assailant and a civilian have died, as reported by the Butler County district attorney to AP.
The former president was addressing his supporters when several shots were heard. Trump is seen on television images bleeding from his right ear while being evacuated by the Secret Service. Apparently, his injury is not serious. It is currently unknown if there are other injuries and the reason for the assassination attempt.
Trump was giving a rally in the town of Butler,, about 55 kilometers from the city of Pittsburgh, in the state of Pennsylvania, which is one of the states that will decide the elections on November 5, when he interrupted his speech and touched his ear as about 10 shots rang out. According to media present at the event, the weapon used may have been a small-caliber pistol.
Secret Service agents quickly removed former President Donald Trump from the stage after he fell to the ground during the rally.
Loud bangs were heard before Trump fell. The agents helped him to his feet, and he had blood on his face. He was shouting to the crowd and raised his fist. He was then taken to a vehicle and evacuated from the scene.
Trump's injury does not appear to be serious. In fact, the former president and Republican candidate for the White House raised his arm defiantly when members of the Secret Service - the security force unit responsible for protecting national and foreign leaders in the US - removed him from the stage and swiftly took him to a vehicle.
As he was being placed in the vehicle, Trump raised his arm with his fist in the air again. The rally was the last one the Republican candidate for the White House had planned before the Republican Convention begins on Tuesday, where he will be officially nominated as the party's candidate for the US presidency. The Republican Party tweeted, "Pray for President Trump."
The White House reported shortly after that President Joe Biden "has been informed about the incident at Trump's rally." The Secret Service has asked attendees to leave the area. Currently, nothing is known about the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators of the assassination attempt.
Biden was attending mass in Rehoboth, in the state of Delaware, where he has his private residence. Officially, the Secret Service has only confirmed "an incident" at a Trump event. The spokesperson for the police force, Anthony Guglielmi, stated in X, "the former president is safe."
Trump's campaign issued a statement in which the former president "thanks law enforcement and emergency services for their swift action in this abhorrent act." The Republican candidate is being treated at a local clinic.
Trump left the rally cheered by his supporters, after several tense seconds in which the former president was on the ground surrounded by security forces, without the several thousand attendees being able to see him.
Leaders of the Democratic Party have condemned the assassination attempt. The White House has not issued any statement at this time.
Subsequently, an unconscious person was evacuated from the stands behind the podium where Trump was when he was shot. It is unknown if the person had been hit by a projectile or had fainted. There is also no information about their condition.
According to journalist Merlyn Kornfiekd, from the Washington Post, in X, citing sources from the Butler security forces, the shooter has been killed. One of the rally attendees is also reported to have died.