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FBI: Trump appears to have been the target of an assassination attempt in Florida

2024-09-16 07:26:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

FBI: Trump appears to have been the target of an assassination attempt in

The FBI said Donald Trump "appears to have been the subject of an assassination attempt" at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, just nine weeks after the Republican presidential candidate survived another assassination attempt on him. The former president said he is fine and out of danger.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said US Secret Service agents fired at a man who had pointed an AK-style rifle at the club while Mr Trump was playing golf.

Mr Bradshaw said the gunman also had two backpacks hanging from a fence and a GoPro camera and that he was up to 500 meters away from Mr Trump and hidden in the bushes while the former president played golf. The person dropped the gun and fled in an SUV and was later arrested in a nearby district.

Several US media identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.

The officials who identified the suspect spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the active investigation. The FBI declined to comment on the identity of the suspect, and other law enforcement agencies did not respond to requests for comment.

The incident is the latest shocking development in a tumultuous campaign year and comes almost two months after Mr Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, a bullet wounding his ear.

Just one week later, President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.

In an email to his supporters, Mr Trump said: "There were gunshots near (me), but before the speculation gets out of hand, I wanted to be the first to tell you: I AM SAFE AND FINE GOOD! Nothing will slow me down. I will never give up!” said the former president.

Agents were just ahead of the former president when they spotted the man with the gun, Mr. Bradshaw said. Secret Service agents and officers with golf carts, as part of the security measures, secure the area in front of and behind former President Trump when he plays golf. Agents also usually bring an armored vehicle nearby to quickly shelter if a threat arises.

Former President Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a campaign trip in the western part of the country, including a rally Friday night in Las Vegas and a fundraiser in Utah.

Security measures for the Republican candidate have been increased after the assassination attempt on him in July.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had been briefed on the incident and would continue to receive information about the investigation.

The White House added that they were "relieved" that Mr Trump was out of danger. Democratic candidate for President Harris said in a statement that she is "pleased" that Mr. Trump is well, adding that "violence has no place in America."

In a post on Platform X, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's top congressional allies, said he had spoken with former President Trump after the incident and that he was "in good spirits" and described him as "one of the people strongest I've ever known."

Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder said the suspect was apprehended within minutes after the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office issued an emergency message asking for a specific vehicle, license plate number and description. personnel within it. Mr. Snyder said that "one of the road patrol units spotted the vehicle, checked the license plate and we followed the car."

"We caught up with the car, stopped it safely and took the driver into custody." Snyder said the suspect "was not armed when we got him out of the car."

He added that the man had a calm demeanor, no reaction and showed little emotion when he was stopped by police, saying the suspect did not ask why he was stopped.

"He never asked, 'what is it about?'"

Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates about it, a Justice Department spokeswoman said.

The former president was scheduled to return to the campaign trail, heading to Flint, Michigan on Tuesday and then to a campaign rally in New York on Wednesday.

At the end of the week, he is scheduled to attend and speak at the Israeli-American Council's National High-Level Meeting in Washington, DC, and on Saturday to hold a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina./ Voa