Assassination attempt on Donald Trump Eyewitness reports dead spectator +++ Video shows assassin +++ Picture shows bullet next to Trump
Shots are fired at a Trump campaign appearance. The presidential candidate is hit in the ear. The suspected shooter is dead. The developments in the ticker.
14.07.2024, 00:38
14.07.2024, 13:29
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No time? blue News summarizes for you
- The sound of gunshots can be heard during an appearance by Donald Trump in the US state of Pennsylvania.
- The ex-president is bleeding from the ear, but does not appear to be seriously injured.
- The suspected shooter and a spectator are dead.
- Two other spectators were seriously injured. Initially, there had been talk of one seriously injured person.
- Biden spoke to Trump personally on the phone after the attack.
- Law enforcement officials are investigating an attempted assassination.
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1.07 p.m.
Eyewitness was sitting next to killed man
On NBC News, an eyewitness describes how the man next to him was shot. "I heard several shots. The man next to me was shot in the head, he died instantly, fell to the floor of the bleachers," said the man, whose name is given as Joseph.
You can read more eyewitness accounts here.
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12.58 pm
How did the Trump assassin get to the roof unseen?
Around 100 meters away from Donald Trump, assassin Thomas C. was able to open fire on the US presidential candidate. There are still many unanswered questions - but there are some initial clues as to what happened. Read all about it here.
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12.45 pm
Video shows assassin on roof
Following the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, the online portal TMZ has published a video showing the alleged shooter. The video shows a man armed with a rifle lying on his stomach on a roof.
"The guy has longer brown hair and appears to be wearing a gray shirt and khaki pants - and as you can see, he's carefully trying to aim at a target from a distance before pulling the trigger," TMZ reported.
The video does not show the man firing. However, several shots and screams can be heard in quick succession. The screaming people cannot be seen either. One man says: "He's turning around here, be careful, people." Another voice says: "Someone's been shot. He's lying right here."
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12:37 p.m.
Picture shows bullet flying towards Trump
A New York Times photographer has apparently captured the moment a bullet flies towards Donald Trump. Former FBI special agent Michael Harrigan tells the newspaper that it "could well be the displacement of air by a projectile". The photographer had chosen an extremely short exposure time when firing the shot. This made it possible to capture a bullet.
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11.43 a.m.
Why did Thomas C. shoot?
Why did a 20-year-old shoot at former President Donald Trump? What motivated perpetrator Thomas C. from the state of Pennsylvania to carry out this apparently planned assassination attempt on the Republican? Investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other security agencies are working hard to find answers to this question.
"They're basically going to write his biography, they're going to find out what his mental state was like over the last five to ten years, what he was doing, what he was up to, whether he was going to school," said investigative expert Steve Moore on US broadcaster CNN. They would also take a close look at his religion, his finances and all his online activities and all other relevant aspects of his life, he added.
Investigators are also likely to quickly find out whether the shooter had legally acquired his weapon and was currently allowed to own it. The purchase of firearms, including semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles, is relatively easy in the USA. This is one of the reasons why there is significantly more gun crime in the US.
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10.41 a.m.
Amherd speaks out
President Viola Amherd has also commented on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Violence in politics is unacceptable and goes against any basic understanding of democracy, said Amherd. She wished Trump a speedy recovery.
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10.30 a.m.
China expresses condolences
China's head of state Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to Donald Trump. China is "concerned about the shooting of former President Trump", according to a brief statement from the foreign ministry in Beijing. The attack on the Republican US presidential candidate was the dominant topic on China's social media.
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10.10 a.m.
What the Kremlin says about the assassination attempt
Moscow has described the attempted assassination of Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump as a consequence of Washington's "policy of fomenting hatred".
The US should take stock of its policy against political opponents, countries and peoples, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She recommended that the USA should rather spend money on keeping order in its own country than, for example, supplying weapons to Ukraine on a massive and uncontrolled scale.
There were initially no words of regret or wishes of recovery for Trump from the official Russian side.
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10.00 a.m.
Video shows sniper operation
Trump shooter Thomas C. was killed by a security forces sniper after his attempt to assassinate the presidential candidate. A video posted on social media shows how shots are initially fired, presumably by Thomas C. The sniper first takes aim at the target and then also fires several shots.
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9:43 a.m.
Ivanka Trump expresses her emotions
After the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka has also spoken out on X. "I am grateful to the Secret Service and all other law enforcement officers for their swift and decisive action today," she wrote. "I continue to pray for our country. I love you dad, today and always."
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9:34 a.m.
Scholz condemns attack
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has condemned the assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump as "despicable". "Such acts of violence threaten democracy", the Chancellor wrote on Sunday in the short message service X. He wished the former president a "speedy recovery". "My thoughts are also with the people who were affected by the attack", the Chancellor added.
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9.25 a.m.
What is known about Thomas C.
Thomas C. (20) shot at Donald Trump at an election campaign event. Now the first details are becoming known. C. is said to have been a Republican voter, but made a small donation to the Democrats. You can read all about it here.
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9.05 a.m.
Two people in mortal danger
Two people are still in mortal danger after the attack on Donald Trump. They are people who were present as spectators at the Trump event in Butler, the FBI confirmed at a media conference on Sunday morning Swiss time. No further details were initially released.
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8:48 a.m.
"Want to know what the hell is going on"
CNN reached the father of the Trump shooter Thomas C. late Saturday evening. He was trying to find out "what the hell is going on," the father said. He first wanted to "talk to the law enforcement authorities" before talking about his son.
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8:44 a.m.
Republican shooter allegedly donated to Biden
Trump shooter Thomas C. was a 20-year-old registered Republican who had previously made a small contribution to a group close to the Democrats, according to public records. CNN reports.
He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, according to a local media report. C. was registered as a Republican This year's presidential election would have been the first in which he was old enough to vote.
In January 2021, C. reportedly donated a sum of $15 - to the Democratic Party and the Biden campaign.
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8:24 a.m.
Video shows Trump after assassination attempt
A video shows Donald Trump after the attempted assassination on Saturday afternoon local time. The presidential candidate is surrounded by Secret Service agents and taken off the stage. Suddenly Trump tells the agents to wait and see. He then sticks his head between the security guards and clenches his fist. He forms his lips into a "Fight, fight, fight." The spectators cheer.
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8.01 a.m.
Perpetrator was apparently a Republican
Not much is yet known about the shooter Thomas C. According to reports, however, he is a Republican - which would make him a voter of Trump's party. Nothing is yet known about his motives.
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7:44 a.m.
FBI releases details on shooter
The suspected shooter in the Trump assassination has been identified. He is Thomas C.*, a young man (20). The suspect, who was killed by a Secret Service sniper, had lived about an hour's drive south of Butler. Investigators had trouble identifying him, in part because he had no identification on him. They used DNA, photos and other information to confirm his identity.
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7.34 a.m.
Selenskyj hopes for a strong America after Trump incident
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has expressed his horror at the incident at an election rally held by US President Donald Trump. "There is no justification and no place in the world for such violence," Selensky wrote on the X platform. He said he was relieved that Trump was now safe and wished him a speedy recovery. Selensky expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victim among the spectators. He wished all those who were horrified strength and that America would emerge stronger from this event.
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6.58 a.m.
Video shows attempted attack
Donald Trump has been shot at a campaign event. The shooter is dead. A video shows the moment the shots are fired.
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6.34 am
FBI classifies shooting as attempted murder
Following the shots fired at a campaign rally in the US state of Pennsylvania, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has classified the incident as an "attempted murder" against former President Donald Trump. This was announced by FBI agent Kevin Rojek on Saturday (local time) at a press conference in Butler, the location of the rally in the state of Pennsylvania. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police assured that there was "no reason" to fear that danger was still imminent.
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4:41 a.m.
Biden on the phone with Trump after attack
US President Joe Biden has spoken personally to the Republican following the attack on his predecessor Donald Trump. This was announced by the White House, without giving details of the conversation. On Sunday, Biden will be briefed by the law enforcement authorities at the White House on the status of the investigation, it added.
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3.58 p.m.
Republicans want to hold party conference despite Trump attack
Despite the attack on their presidential candidate Donald Trump, the US Republicans want to hold the nomination convention in Milwaukee this week as planned. This was announced by the party and Trump's campaign team in a joint statement. The Republicans will convene in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday for their nominating convention to officially choose the 78-year-old as their presidential candidate.
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3.54 p.m.
Secret Service: Gunman fired from "elevated position" outside the venue
In the attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the suspected gunman opened fire from an "elevated position" outside the venue. This has since been confirmed by the Secret Service.
One spectator was killed and two others seriously injured, the Secret Service announced. Initially, there had been talk of one seriously injured person.
The Secret Service had "neutralized" the shooter, according to a statement from the agency's head of communications. The incident is being investigated and the FBI has been informed.
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3.52 a.m.
Borrell: Once again unacceptable violence against politicians
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell has strongly condemned the attack on former US President Donald Trump. "I am shocked by the news of the attack on President Trump," wrote the European Union's foreign policy chief on Sunday night on Platform X. "Once again we are witnessing unacceptable acts of violence against politicians."
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3.35 am
US Vice President Harris warns of spiral of violence
US Vice President Kamala Harris has warned against an escalation of violence following the attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. "We must all condemn this heinous act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to further violence," the Democrat said on X. She said she was praying for the Republican, his family and all those affected by the attack.
Former US President Barack Obama also condemned the attack. "There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy," the Democrat wrote on X. He added that the incident was a reason to stand up for decency and respect in politics.
Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi wrote on X: "As someone whose family has been victimized by political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe."
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3:30 p.m.
Trudeau: Political violence is never acceptable
Following the attack on Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, Canada's head of government Justin Trudeau has strongly condemned the violence. The incident made him angry, Trudeau wrote on Sunday night on X. "It cannot be emphasized enough: Political violence is never acceptable." He added that his thoughts were with the former US president, the participants of the event and all Americans.
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3.16 am
After attack on Trump: Meloni hopes for dialog in election campaign
Following the attack at an election rally by US presidential candidate Donald Trump, Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for more dialog. Her solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery went to Trump - "in the hope that in the coming months of the election campaign, dialog and responsibility could prevail against hatred and violence," Meloni wrote on Sunday night at X.
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3.14 am
Media: Biden team halts campaign ads after Trump attack
Following the attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden's campaign team immediately announced a change of plan. All outgoing communication will be interrupted, reported CNN and the Washington Post, among others, citing sources from the campaign team. They are also working on stopping the broadcast of election commercials "as quickly as possible".
According to the district attorney responsible, one spectator was killed and another person seriously injured in the attack at a Trump campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania. The shooter was also killed. According to Trump himself, he was shot in the ear.
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3.11 a.m.
Trump: "Was hit in the ear by a bullet"
Former US President Donald Trump has said that he was injured by a bullet to the ear during an attack at a campaign appearance in the state of Pennsylvania. "I was hit by a bullet that pierced the top of my right ear," wrote Republican presidential candidate Trump on the Truth Social platform he co-founded.
"I knew immediately that something was wrong because I heard a hissing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet pierce my skin." Trump went on to write, "It was bleeding profusely and that's when I realized what was going on."
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, bleeding from the ear, is brought to safety by Secret Service agents. (July 13, 2024)
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Security personnel help Donald Trump off the stage.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Secret Service agents protect Donald Trump.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Donald Trump ducks away and is protected by Secret Service agents.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
According to a spokesman, Trump is "fine".
Image: dpa
Trump is escorted off the stage by security personnel.
Image: Keystone
Trump is led off the stage.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Trump's ear is bleeding.
Image: Keystone/AP
Secret Service agents run to Trump after shots are fired on stage.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Trump's security personnel react immediately.
Image: Keystone/AP
Attack on Trump during US election campaign - suspected shooter dead - Gallery
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, bleeding from the ear, is brought to safety by Secret Service agents. (July 13, 2024)
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Security personnel help Donald Trump off the stage.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Secret Service agents protect Donald Trump.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Donald Trump ducks away and is protected by Secret Service agents.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
According to a spokesman, Trump is "fine".
Image: dpa
Trump is escorted off the stage by security personnel.
Image: Keystone
Trump is led off the stage.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Trump's ear is bleeding.
Image: Keystone/AP
Secret Service agents run to Trump after shots are fired on stage.
Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Trump's security personnel react immediately.
Image: Keystone/AP
On video recordings of the event in the town of Butler, bangs could be heard. Trump then grabbed his ear and ducked away. Security personnel ran onto the stage and shielded him. Standing upright and supported by Secret Service agents, he then left the stage. He raised his fist in the air. It looked as if Trump had blood on his ear. The Republican had only just begun his speech in Butler when the incident occurred.
Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the event participant who was killed and the one who was injured. "It's unbelievable that an act like this can happen in our country," he lamented. Nothing is yet known about the shooter who was killed. The Republican concluded his speech with the words: "God bless America."
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2:50 a.m.
British prime minister condemns political violence
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned political violence of any kind following the attack on former US President Donald Trump. "I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally and we send our best wishes to him and his family," Starmer, who has only been in office since the beginning of July, said on the X platform.
"Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack," Starmer wrote.
His Secretary of State David Lammy expressed similar sentiments: "As we follow the shocking developments in Pennsylvania, our thoughts and best wishes are with President Trump - as well as all the victims and their families."
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2.27 am
Biden wants to talk to Trump personally after attack
Following the attack on former US President Donald Trump, incumbent Joe Biden wants to speak to his predecessor in person as soon as possible. "I hope I can talk to him tonight," said Biden in a statement made at short notice in Rehoboth Beach in the state of Delaware, where the Democrat was staying at the weekend.
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2:13 a.m.
Biden wants to make a statement after attack on Trump
US President Joe Biden wants to make a statement in front of the cameras after the attack on his predecessor Donald Trump. This was announced by the White House, but no time was given. Biden is staying at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach in the US state of Delaware over the weekend and had previously released a written statement.
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2.09 am
Right-wing populist Farage lashes out at media after incident with Trump
The British right-wing populist Nigel Farage has railed against the media following the incident at an election campaign appearance by former US President Donald Trump in the state of Pennsylvania. "Mainstream media have spread a narrative of hate against my friend Donald Trump," Farage, who pushed for Brexit, wrote on Platform X. "I hope they are proud of themselves. Disgusting people."
Trump had been escorted to safety at the campaign appearance. Bangs could be heard on video recordings of the event - it was initially unclear whether these were gunshots.
Shortly afterwards, Trump announced via his team that he was fine and was currently undergoing a medical examination. It was unclear whether the current presidential candidate sustained any injuries. Farage from the right-wing populist Reform UK party shared a photo he had posted of Trump raising his arm in the air.
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2.05 am
US President Biden condemns attack on Trump
US President Joe Biden has condemned the attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. "There is no place for this kind of violence in America," the Democrat said in a written statement released by the White House. "We must unite as a nation to condemn it." He said he was grateful to hear that Trump was safe and well. "I pray for him and his family and for all who attended the rally as we wait for more information."
A number of high-ranking representatives from both parties also condemned the attack. The Republican chairman of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, wrote on Platform X that he was praying for Trump. The Democratic minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, expressed similar sentiments on X. "America is a democracy," he wrote there. "Political violence in any form is never acceptable." The Democratic majority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, also told X that he was shocked by the incident and relieved that Trump was doing well. "Political violence has no place in our country."
The political mood in the USA has been heated for years. At the beginning of the year, the US Department of Justice lamented a "deeply troubling increase in threats" against public officials and democratic institutions in the country. The presidential election on November 5 is the first since the dramatic upheavals surrounding the 2020 election, which ended in an unprecedented outbreak of violence. At that time, Trump had not accepted his election defeat against Biden and incited his supporters for months with allegations of election fraud. Trump supporters finally violently stormed the US Capitol, the American parliament and the heart of US democracy, on January 6, 2021. Several people were killed in the unprecedented attack.
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2.10 am
Panic in the audience
An eyewitness told the US broadcaster CBS that he heard noises that he initially thought were fireworks. Then someone shouted that a person had been shot. The eyewitness, who was wearing an apparently bloodstained T-shirt, said he was an emergency doctor and had tried to administer first aid. The person was seriously injured. Another eyewitness told the BBC that he had seen a man with a rifle on a roof.
![The venue emptied after the shooting.]()
The venue emptied after the shooting. Picture: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan VucciPanic broke out in the audience after the incident. People were screaming. Trump supporters were evacuated after the incident. The area around the stage was cordoned off with yellow flutter tape and secured by heavily armed emergency services.
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2.02 am
One spectator dies at rally
After shots were fired at a rally of the US Republican presidential candidate-elect, Donald Trump, one participant in the event has also died. The district attorney of Butler County in the state of Pennsylvania, Richard Goldinger, told the AP news agency. A second participant's life is in danger.
Goldinger added that he did not know whether the suspected shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was shot by someone during the incident.
Goldinger could not say how many people were present at the event. However, he spoke of "chaos". It was difficult to get people to safety. The suspected shooter had also been killed.
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1.54 a.m.
US law enforcement officials investigate alleged assassination attempt on Trump
Law enforcement officials are investigating an attempted assassination after shots were fired at a rally for prospective US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Two officials made the announcement on Saturday.
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1:44 a.m.
Suspected shooter at Trump rally dead
After shots were fired at a rally for US Republican presidential candidate-elect Donald Trump, the suspected shooter is dead, according to the public prosecutor's office. A rally participant is also no longer alive, the district attorney of Butler County in the state of Pennsylvania told the AP news agency.
On video recordings of the event in the town of Butler, bangs could be heard. Trump then grabbed his ear and ducked away. Security personnel ran onto the stage and shielded him. Standing upright and supported by Secret Service agents, he then left the stage. He raised his fist in the air. It looked as if Trump had blood on his ear. The Republican had only just begun his speech in Butler when the incident occurred.
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1:14 p.m.
President Biden briefed on incident at Trump appearance
US President Joe Biden has been informed about the incident at a campaign appearance by former President Donald Trump. This was announced by the White House. Trump was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents at a rally on Saturday evening (local time). Pictures showed Trump with an apparently bloody ear and a raised fist. It was unclear whether shots had been fired beforehand - according to reporters present, loud bangs and screams could be heard.
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1.07 a.m.
Spokesman: Trump is "fine" after incident on stage
Former US President Donald Trump is "doing well" after an attack at a campaign event in the US state of Pennsylvania, according to a spokesperson. He is being examined at a medical facility, Trump's communications director Steven Cheung said.
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0:40 a.m.
Security guards take Trump off stage during appearance
Former US President Donald Trump has been taken to safety by Secret Service agents during a campaign appearance in the state of Pennsylvania. It was unclear whether shots had been fired beforehand - according to reporters present, loud bangs and screams could be heard. Pictures showed Trump with an apparently bloody ear and a raised fist. The situation was initially completely confusing.
![US Secret Service agents protect Donald Trump after gunshots were heard. (July 13, 2024)]()
US Secret Service agents protect Donald Trump after gunshots were heard. (July 13, 2024) Image: Keystone/AP Photo/Evan VucciTrump had just begun his speech in the town of Butler, Pennsylvania, when the incident occurred. The 78-year-old wants to return to the White House for the Republicans after the presidential election in November.
TV footage showed panic breaking out at the event and people shouting. The Trump supporters were taken away after the incident. The area around the stage was cordoned off with yellow flutter tape. It was initially unclear whether and how seriously Trump was injured. A helicopter landed.
![Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, and taken off the stage.]()
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, and taken off the stage. Image: Keystone/AP/Evan VucciThe Republican Party convention is due to begin in Milwaukee on Monday. There, Trump is to be officially chosen as his party's candidate for the presidential election.
