Trump attempts an hour before the act labeled suspicious
Thousands of people came to Trump's rally. However, local security personnel identified a suspect in the crowd - later identified attacker Crooks. He was not apprehended. This put pressure on the Secret Service.
New findings from the investigation into the attack on ex-US President Donald Trump increase the pressure on the security forces. Local security personnel had identified the suspect in the crowd an hour before the shooting, as a "young man who behaved strangely," according to the "New York Times." The Secret Service, which protects the ex-President, was also informed. But then the trail went cold.
At least two security personnel were called in to help with the search. Twenty minutes before the shots were fired, a sniper was reported to have spotted the attacker on a roof, it was further reported. Why the rally continued and Trump went on stage is one of many open questions for the Secret Service, wrote the "New York Times."
The newspaper reported, citing Congressmen, that the suspect had carried a backpack and a range-finding device with him. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming wrote on X about this.
Local security informed about personnel shortage
The attacker was shot and killed 26 seconds after his first shot, reported ABC News. On his phone, he had searched for the Trump rally schedule as well as photos of Trump and US President Joe Biden in the lead-up to the attack, reported CBS News. The shooter had visited the venue at least once before the event, reported CBS News.
Uncertainties remain according to US media regarding the securing of the building from which the shooter fired. Two days before the event, local security informed the Secret Service that they could not secure the building due to a personnel shortage, as reported by CBS News.
Trump was shot and wounded in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The FBI identified the shooter later as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania.
The Secret Service is under increased scrutiny due to new findings surrounding the assault on former President Donald Trump. According to the investigation, local security had identified the attacker, Crooks, an hour before the shooting, but the trail went cold.
The Secret Service faced criticism after it was reported that two days before the event, local security informed them of a personnel shortage, making it difficult to secure a building from which the shooter eventually fired.
