UPDATED: Trump injured, safe in shooting at Pennsylvania rally, FBI identifies shooter suspect

Donald Trump, former United States President, was rushed off stage to a local medical facility on Saturday after a possible assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump’s ear was injured by a bullet fired during the Pennsylvania rally. The Secret Service says the suspected shooter and at least one rally attendee are dead.

“An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for the US Secret Service wrote on X.

Multiple gunshots rang out intermittently about ten minutes into Trump’s speech.

The Secret Service posted a message on social media, saying that the former president is safe, and that the person suspected of firing the shots is dead. At least one person attending the rally was killed and two others were seriously injured.

Meanwhile, One person has been taken into custody for the shooting.

US media outlets say the Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the suspect in the shooting of former President Donald Trump as Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old man who lived in the eastern state of Pennsylvania.

Details such as the background and the motive for the attack remain unknown at the moment.

ABC News quoted investigative authorities as saying that the suspect fired 8 rounds from a rifle from the rooftop of a building.

A woman attending the rally said that she heard “a bang-bang that sounded like a firecracker.”

Trump released a statement on social media after the shooting.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening,” Trump said on social media platform, Truth.

“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead,” he said.

Jim Moore, 57, was in the grandstand behind the stage when the shots were fired. He said a man about five rows up from him was shot and went down. He said agents came and escorted him behind the grandstand, where they tended his wounds.

“The guy right behind us got shot. After they got Trump out of the way, they took him and walked him down – he was walking – they took him behind the bleachers and laid him down,” said Moore, who is from Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

US President Joe Biden strongly condemned the incident. He commented on social media and stressed that “there is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

The White House announced that Biden spoke to Trump after the shooting and that the president has changed his schedule to return to Washington to receive updates on the incident.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio posted a condemnation of the shooting of the former US president on social media.

Kishida commented, “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy. I pray for former President Trump’s speedy recovery.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media that he was “shocked by the apparent attack”. The prime minister added that he prays for Trump’s “safety and speedy recovery.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on social media that he is “appalled by shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally”. He added that “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all victims of this attack.”