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Suspect in custody after apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump

Secret Service agents opened fire on a man with a rifle as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump played golf at West Palm Beach in Florida, officials say.

West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw shows a photo of an AK-style rifle with a scope and bags found by the Secret Service at the Trump International Golf Club in in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: EPA

West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw shows a photo of an AK-style rifle with a scope and bags found by the Secret Service at the Trump International Golf Club in in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: EPA

Law enforcement officials said US Secret Service agents spotted and fired on a gunman with an AK-47-style assault rifle.

The New York Times and Fox News Channel identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii.

After spotting the rifle barrel about 350-450 metres away from Trump as they cleared holes of potential threats ahead of his play, the agents fired at least four shots, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told a news conference.

The gunman dropped his rifle, two backpacks and other items and fled in a black Nissan car. A witness, the sheriff said, saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and licence plate.

Officials sent out an alert to statewide agencies with information about the vehicle, with sheriff’s deputies in neighbouring Martin County apprehending the suspect on I-95.

“We have somebody in custody right now,” said Bradshaw, who did not identify the suspect or give details on a possible motive.

Palm Beach Sheriff officers guard the entrance of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Photo: EPA

Trump sent an email to his fundraising list saying there were “gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumours start spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” according to an email seen by Reuters.

Trump was injured in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13, raising questions about protection for candidates just months ahead of what looks likely to be highly contested November 5 election in which he will face off against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed about the incident and were relieved to know that he is safe.

“Violence has no place in America,” Harris said on X.

Trump’s running mate in the presidential election, US Senator JD Vance, said he spoke to Trump after the shooting and that the former president was in good spirits.

The first shooting of a US president or major party presidential candidate in more than four decades was a glaring security lapse that forced Kimberly Cheatle to resign as Secret Service director under bipartisan congressional pressure.

Trump was grazed in the right ear and one rallygoer was killed in the gunfire. The gunman, identified as a 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.

The Secret Service’s new acting director said in August that he was “ashamed” of a security lapse that led to the assassination attempt.

– AAP
Topics: donald trump
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