THE attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump marks the biggest US security failing in over four decades, an expert told The Sun.
Secret Service agents charged with protecting those at the event committed a “colossal failure” at the Pennsylvania rally, the security analyst said.
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Alan Mendoza, director of trans-Atlantic foreign policy think tank Henry Jackson Society, told The Sun that the US Secret Service will now have “lots of questions to answer”.
He warned that the US is a hotbed of “political violence” and that the Secret Service failed to live up to their usual “meticulous” standards in keeping such violence at bay on Saturday.
Some five gunshots were fired towards Trump at around 6pm as he addressed supporters onstage at a rally in Butler, slicing through his ear.
Shocking footage captured him falling to the ground behind his podium before Secret Service agents closed in and hauled him off to safety.
One audience member was killed in the attack and two critically injured. The victims have not yet been identified.
Alan told The Sun: “How did a shooter get within that distance to be able to fire off clean shots towards a former president, a presidential candidate?
“How and why would the Secret Service not on the perimeter? How have they not allowed this to be totally locked down?
“If there was a warning, why wasn’t it taken seriously? All these questions do indeed point to a classic security failure.
“And indeed, of course, the most significant political security failure since the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981.”
The last time something similarly shocking happened in the US was when President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 in Washington DC.
Heading for his limousine, the President was struck by shooter John Hinckley Junior and injured in the armpit.
He was seriously injured but later stabilised in hospital.
What we know so far:
- A shooter opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, killing one, critically injuring two others, and wounding the former President
- Dramatic footage showed the moment Trump dived behind his podium as Secret Service agents closed in
- The FBI confirmed it was an assassination attempt, but said there was no prior threat
- Trump broke his silence with a statement describing the shooting – after a bullet struck his ear and left blood pouring down the side of his face
- A hot microphone captured the moment Secret Service agents screamed “Get down!”
- The shooter – identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks – was shot dead by Secret Service agents at the scene
- A witness claims he warned police about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before the attack
- President Joe Biden dubbed the shooting “sick,” and has suspended campaigning for the next two days
Donald Trump, Alan explains is a “likely target for political violence” and came very close to suffering a fatal blow during the attack.
“What is shocking, of course, is that this time the shooter managed to get their shots off. The former president was actually hit,” he said.
He added: “And you can see by the fact that he was bleeding how close he came to a disaster.
“It’s incredible that a plot like this has managed to get to the stage where a presidential candidate, a former president, has actually been shot at.”
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, identified by the FBI, was “neutralised” by Secret Service snipers shortly after opening fire at the open-air event.
Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is said to have positioned himself on top of a manufacturing plant roughly 200 feet outside the cordoned-off rally zone.
He was later shot dead by snipers who returned the gunfire from the roof of another building nearby.
Officers said they do not yet have a motive for the shooting but have confirmed it as an assassination attempt on the former President.
The FBI said Crooks did not have any ID on him at the time, with officials identifying him through his DNA.
An AR-15 was reportedly recovered near his body.
A spokesperson for the former president released a statement in the early hours: “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.
“He is fine and being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
Bethel Park is located about 40 miles south of where Saturday’s rally was held in Butler.
The airspace over the area has since been shut down “immediately” for security reasons.
The FBI confirmed in a statement during the early hours of Sunday: “The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on 13 July, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation.”
Anthony Guglielmi, chief of comms for the bureau, confirmed that Crooks was “neutralised” by Secret Service agents on the scene
Voter records in Pennsylvania, according to NBC, list a Thomas Matthew Crooks with the same birthday and address as a registered Republican.
Possible photos of Crooks on a roof at the rally show him wearing a merchandise T-shirt linked to a YouTube channel devoted to guns.
Verified by NBC, the pictures show him bleeding and surrounded by security agents.
Lettering on the shirt appears to match a top still for sale on the website of firearms YouTube channel Demolition Ranch.
Chaos erupted shortly after 6pm on Saturday when Trump took to the stage to address Republican voters.
Minutes later, bullets could be heard ringing out, with Trump seen hitting the deck as security personnel swarmed.
Astounding images from the scene showed agents covering Trump as he hit the deck, before rushing him into a car and whisking him away.
People screamed “Get down!” and supporters could be seen cowering in the stands.
Some stood up and cheered alongside Trump as he pumped his fist into the air and mouthed “Fight, Fight, Fight!” moments after the shooting.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Other pictures showed Secret Service snipers on a roof nearby – poised to fire back after shots rang out.
Donald Trump Rally Shooting Reaction
Dozens of politicians and celebrities have offered their support for the former president after he was reportedly grazed by gunfire at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
President Biden held a brief press conference just after 8 pm ET. He said he was hoping to speak to Trump.
“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick,” the president continued. “We cannot condone this.”
Vice President Harris said she was “relieved” Trump was not seriously injured.
“Violence such as this has no place in our nation,” she continued.
Former President Obama said on X: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.
“Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.
Donald Trump, Jr shared a photo of his father raising a fist moments after he was shot with the caption: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr said: “Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division, renounce all violence, and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said: “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
Britain’s new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took to X to say: “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and we send him and his family our best wishes.
“Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”
Reform leader and newly elected MP Nigel Farage said it is a “miracle” that his friend is still alive.
Farage told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “I was very upset when I heard the news late last night, Donald Trump survived by a miracle, frankly.
“But one innocent man is dead, two are fighting for their lives in hospital. It’s horrible, and yet somehow not surprising.”
Former PM Boris Johnson also gave his condolences to Trump and his family as he said it shows “the tragic fragility of democracy in the face of violence and unreason”.
Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been a target for assassins in the past, also said he was “appalled” by the events in the US.
“Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail,” he said on X.
“I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this.”
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