Shooting attempt on Trump raises campaign security concerns

The attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump has sparked questions about the security of presidential campaigns and the apparent lapses in protection during a Saturday rally.

Despite limited information about the incident, a source told the BBC that he unsuccessfully tried to alert police and the Secret Service about a sniper outside the secure perimeter at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The Secret Service, responsible for protecting Trump as a former president and current Republican presidential candidate, works with local police to secure his events, which attract thousands of people in open areas for extended periods. Each rally site is thoroughly inspected, attendees are screened, and Trump arrives in a fortified convoy.

Initial reports suggest the shooter was outside the usual security perimeter. A witness reported seeing Secret Service officers on a nearby rooftop before the incident, closely monitoring the area.

The Secret Service confirmed an investigation had begun and briefed President Joe Biden on the developments. After Trump was shot, agents formed a human shield around him, and armed teams secured the area before transporting him to a hospital.

The assailant reportedly fired from a location outside the protected zone. An attendee saw Secret Service agents using enhanced binoculars to scan the area before Trump took the stage.

Trump, covered in blood on his right ear, was evacuated from the stage by security while raising his fist to the crowd. He later announced on Truth Social that he was shot in the upper part of his right ear, calling such incidents unacceptable in the US.

Trump had just begun his speech when the shots were fired. The Secret Service neutralized the shooter, who fired from a high vantage point. Trump's campaign confirmed he was "okay" and undergoing medical evaluation, intending to attend the Republican Party conference.

President Joe Biden condemned the shooting, expressing concern over such violence in the US and relief that Trump was "safe and well." Trump is expected to return to the White House later on Saturday.