Trump shot in ear, escapes assassination attempt

Former US President Donald Trump was rushed off stage after gunshots erupted at a rally in Pennsylvania in an apparent assassination attempt.

Footage showed him grimace and raise a hand to his right ear, before ducking as sharp cracks , a series of shots -broke out.

He was quickly swarmed by US Secret Service agents and dragged off stage to a waiting vehicle. He raised a fist as he was bundled into the car.

In a post to his Truth Social network, Trump said a bullet pierced the “upper part” of his right ear. Earlier, his spokesperson said he was “fine” and receiving treatment at a local medical centre.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

Blood was clearly visible on Trump’s ear and face as protection officers rushed him away.

The suspect was shot dead at the scene by US Secret Service officers, the agency’s spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said. He added that one bystander was killed in the shooting and two others were critically injured.

Law enforcement sources told the BBC’s US partner CBS News that the male attacker had been armed with a rifle and had fired from an elevated structure a few hundred metres away outside the venue. They added that the attack was being treated as an assassination attempt.

Guglielmi said Trump was safe and that measures for his protection had been implemented. He added that an active investigation which is being led by the FBI was under way.
Meanwhile, Politicians of both parties have condemned the apparent attack.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said “violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable”.

Former Vice-President Mike Pence said he and his wife were praying for Trump, adding that he urged “every American to join us”.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement: “My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”