Assassination in Pennsylvania - Apparently, the attacker shot at Donald Trump from this distance
At the beginning, everything was as usual. In Butler, in the US state of Pennsylvania, Donald Trump gathered around himself supporters and security personnel, attacked his challenger Joe Biden, labeled him as the "worst president of all times". Then it happened. Trump put his hand to his ear, ducked under the speaker podium. Panic in the audience. Later, Trump reappeared with blood on his ear and face, shouted defiant slogans into the crowd before being escorted from the stage by US intelligence agents.
After the incident at the campaign rally, a spectator is dead, two others seriously injured, the country in shock. The origin of the shots, who was behind it, and why the presidential candidate was targeted, is completely unclear in the hours that follow.
An eyewitness, however, claims to have seen the alleged shooter climbing onto the roof of a building, approximately 100 meters from the podium. "I saw the gun, 100 percent," he reported to the US broadcaster BBC. The patrolling policemen paid no attention when he and his friend group drew their attention to the man. Shortly after the shots were fired, he wondered: "There are only a few buildings here. Why isn't the Secret Service on all these buildings?" In other words: How could the assailant shoot at the event undetected with a weapon?
On the Lookout – Within Close Proximity to Donald Trump
The incident came as a surprise to the FBI, according to a special agent of the security agency during a press conference. "We are still going through the security measures taken by the Secret Service to find out what could have happened," he said. The spokesperson announced an investigation. It would take months.
Meanwhile, several media outlets have analyzed dozens of videos, photos, and satellite images. According to CNN, the alleged shooter came surprisingly close to Donald Trump. The man reportedly positioned himself on a roof about 120 to 150 meters from the podium. For comparison, 150 meters is the distance, from which US army recruits must hit a human-sized silhouette with an M16 assault rifle to qualify in basic training. US media reports indicate that the shooter used an AR-15. This refers to a semi-automatic version of the military assault rifle.
According to the Associated Press (AP) news agency, an analyzed video from social media shows the disheveled body of a man in gray camouflage on the roof of a production plant north of the event site where Trump held his campaign. It is unclear whether it is the alleged shooter.
Did US Agencies Fail?
U.S. authorities are now investigating the incident. Several U.S. media have already raised the question of whether the Secret Service failed in this instance. The Chairman of the Congressional Oversight Committee, Peter A. DeFazio, had warned weeks ago that "vulnerabilities within the agency" could endanger national security. There is also heated discussion about whether the selection and training processes of the Secret Service should be strengthened. The incident in question involves an alleged attack on a security officer by a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris.
After the incident in Pennsylvania, the Lieutenant Colonel of the State Police in that state, George Bivens, defended his colleagues: "It's incredibly difficult to secure a publicly accessible event site against any possible threat from a highly determined attacker," CNN quoted him.
Trump's campaign rally took place, like most previously, outdoors. The grounds of the Farm Show in the city of Butler are located between meadows, a pond, and several buildings near the city's airport. For such events, streets are closed, traffic is rerouted.
Trump himself is protected around the clock by agents of the intelligence service. The Security Team is supposed to be much larger than that of his predecessors. A reason: His predecessors have mostly kept a low profile. Trump is running for office again to regain a place in the White House.
Following the incident at the rally, concerns about security protocols emerged. According to some reports, Donald Trump came dangerously close to the alleged shooter during the event in Pennsylvania. As per CNN's analysis, the suspect reportedly positioned himself on a roof approximately 120 to 150 meters from the podium, a distance that is normally challenging for US army recruits to hit a target with an M16 assault rifle during basic training. Despite this proximity, it remains unclear if US intelligence agencies were aware of the potential threat.
