The FBI says it is investigating an incident involving a gunman at former US President Donald Trump’s golf course in Florida as an apparent “attempted assassination”.
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, says he is “safe and well” after gunshots were fired in his vicinity in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Law enforcement officials say agents spotted a gunman with a rifle at the golf course, fired at him and eventually took him into custody after he tried to flee.
US President Joe Biden says he and Vice President Kamala Harris are “relieved” that Trump was not hurt in the incident.
- Republican congressman calls incident ‘shocking and unacceptable’
“Now more than ever, we cannot allow violence to seep into politics,” Carey, who represents a district in Ohio, wrote in a social media post.
- More political violence could occur before election: Expert
The FBI has said it is investigating the incident as an “attempted assassination”, as it did following the attack on Trump in July.
“We’re in a highly polarised political climate. We live in a country awash with weaponry, and there’s a constant threat stream – an unending, incessant, ubiquitous threat stream against the top political figures,” Clarke said.
“So I’m not surprised at all, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news. This is probably not the last form of political violence that we’re going to see between now and November, to say nothing of what happens after the election.”
- What happened during Trump assassination attempt in July?
Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13 during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Gunshots had rung out as Trump spoke on the stage. He took cover, with Secret Service agents diving on top of him. He then stood up, bearing a bloody ear and pumping his fist. “Fight, fight, fight,” he said.
Fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore, who was on the stage in support of Trump, was fatally shot in the attack. Several others were wounded.
It was later revealed that 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks had opened fire from a nearby rooftop, raising questions over how the Secret Service had secured the area.
Crooks was fatally shot by a Secret Service agent at the scene.
- What did we learn?
The news conference by law enforcement agencies – including the FBI, Secret Service and local officials – has ended. Here’s what they said:
- The gunman was spotted by a Secret Service agent poking the muzzle of a gun through a fence at the golf course. As part of the security protocol, the agent had been one hole ahead of Trump.
- The Secret Service agent fired at the suspect. It was unclear if the suspect fired back at the agent.
- The suspect then fled the wooded area, got into a black vehicle and fled the scene.
- A witness took a picture of the vehicle, including its licence plate. The information allowed law enforcement to quickly locate and detain the suspect.
- A backpack, GoPro camera, firearm scope and AK-47-style rifle were recovered where the suspect had been near the golf course. The Palm County sheriff said it appeared the suspect sought to film himself.
- The sheriff said the suspect was about 400 to 500 yards (366 to 457 metres) away from Trump.
- The FBI had earlier confirmed that the incident was being investigated as an “attempted assassination”.