Assassination attempt on Donald Trump: 'I was hit by a bullet that pierced the top of my ear', suspect who was shot fired repeatedly from an elevated position, bystander killed

Former US president and Republican candidate Donald Trump was evacuated from a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday with blood dripping from his ear, after gunfire claimed the lives of at least one person in the audience.

 

The American right-wing presidential candidate said he had been shot in the ear. "I was hit by a bullet that pierced the top of my right ear," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "It is unbelievable that such an act could happen in our country," he added.

 

In addition to the suspected gunman, a bystander was killed. Two other people are in serious condition, said the Secret Service on Saturday in a statement published on X.

 

The alleged shooter, who was shot dead, was outside the open-air venue where the rally was taking place, Richard Goldinger, the district attorney for Butler County, Pennsylvania (northeast), told CNN. "I don't know how he got to where he was, but he was outside," the prosecutor said, specifying that he had no information on his identity. The man was shot by the Secret Service. He "fired several shots from an elevated position" said the security service, which "neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased".

 

The facts are being investigated as a possible assassination attempt, according to the police.

 

Donald Trump "is safe", said the Secret Service. He was able to leave hospital three hours after the incident. His campaign team had assured him that he was in good health and "being examined in a medical facility" on site. The former president's son, Donald Trump Jr, had issued a statement in which he also assured that he had spoken to his father by telephone, and that the latter was "in good shape".

 

It was Donald Trump's last rally before the Republican convention, where he is due to be officially inaugurated as the Republican Party's nominee to face Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in the November election.

 

Donald Trump, who had just begun his speech with one of his usual tirades on the migrants he accuses his Democratic successor of letting into the country on a massive scale, was immediately wrestled to the ground by Secret Service agents.

Cries of horror erupted from the audience. After a few moments, Donald Trump stood up, his hair disheveled and without his red cap, surrounded by the agents. "Let me get my shoes," he was heard to say. He was then escorted from the stage to his car, repeatedly raising his fist in the air in defiance, to the cheers of his supporters.

 

"We saw a lot of people throwing themselves to the ground, looking confused. I heard the gunshots, it sounded like something between firecrackers and a small-caliber pistol," a supporter, John Yeykal, told AFP on the spot.

 

Joe Biden was briefed on events at his Republican rival Donald Trump's rally on Saturday evening, the White House announced. He says he is "happy to hear that he is safe and well," said the US president referring to his predecessor president. "My prayers are with him and his family, as well as all those who were present at the rally, as we await further information," added Joe Biden. He added that he was grateful that the Secret Service had placed his political opponent in safety. "This type of violence has no place in America. We must unite as a nation to condemn it." "Everyone must condemn it", said US President Joe Biden in a short speech. The Democrat also said he hoped to speak "tonight" to his Republican rival in the November presidential race.

 

"No place for political violence in our democracy," also reacted former Democratic President Barack Obama. "While we don't yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump was not seriously injured, and use this moment to renew our commitment (to showing) civility and respect in politics," he wrote on X.

 

Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was "horrified". Elon Musk reacted by supporting Donald Trump and wishing him a "speedy recovery".

 

The consequences of this event on the countryside are still incalculable.