Former US President Donald Trump has been shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
President Trump was addressing hundreds of supporters in Butler when shots began ringing out.
Trump was seen grabbing his ear before Secret Service agents rushed the stage and forced him to the ground.
The agents later helped Trump to his feet with images showing the former President bleeding from the ear.
He was ushered to a waiting vehicle and rushed to a nearby medical facility.
Photo by Trump Campaign Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
Photo by Trump Campaign Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
Photo by Trump Campaign Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
The alleged gunman was shot dead while another person who was at the rally was also killed.
Two other people were reportedly wounded.
Brandon Christie was among the people at the rally and described the chaos as it unfolded.
“I heard a loud pop and I thought it was the speaker cracking and we heard another one and people started screaming so we all just hit the ground,” he told Fox News.
“There was probably six, seven shots in total and then I look up in the bleachers and people are just screaming and crying and there’s just blood everywhere.”
The US Secret Service has confirmed an investigation is now underway with the FBI informed.
“A suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” it said in a statement.
“US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.
“US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former President is safe and being evaluated.”
Trump later released a statement on social media confirming a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear, describing a whizzing sound before realising he had been wounded.
The former President expressed his condolences to the rally attendee who was killed while thanking Secret Service agents who came to his aid.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country. Nothing is known about the shooter, who is now dead,” Trump said.
President Joe Biden condemned the attack and expressed his relief that Trump was ok.
“There’s no place in America fo this kind of violence. It’s sick,” President Biden told reporters.
“We cannot allow for this to be happening, we cannot be like this, we cannot condone this.”
President Biden expressed his relief that Trump was ok and said he hoped to speak to him later today.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack on President Trump.
“The incident at former President Trump’s campaign event in Pennsylvania today is concerning and confronting,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
“There is no place for violence in the democratic process.
“I am relieved to hear reports that former President Trump is now safe.”
More to come.
