Published 11:05 IST, July 14th 2024

Was 'Ignored' After I Told Secret Services Of A Man With Rifle At Trump Rally, Claims Eyewitness

The eyewitness told BBC that he pointed out at a man climbing on top of a barn with a rifle, “barely 50 feet away” as Trump was speaking at the rally.

Reported by: Digital Desk
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Assassination attempt made on Donald Trump | Image: X
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Pennsylvania: Eyewitnesses saying that the suspect shooter was at the top of the roof adjacent to Donald Trump's rally, where an assassination attempt was made on the Republican Presidential candidate, has raised serious concerns and apparent security lapses at the rally. Another eyewitness told BBC that he was ignored by both the police and the Secret Services after he pointed out at a suspicious man with a rifle climbing on top of a barn, “barely 50 feet away” as Trump was speaking at the rally. With these latest revelations, the bigger question that arises – Was a potential threat overlooked?

Shooter shot dead at Trump Rally. Credit - X


Reports said that the shooter was positioned only "400 to 500 meters", quoting eyewitnesses. An eyewitness told BBC that he informed both the police and Secret Service about a suspicious man on a roof with a rifle adjacent to Trump's rally but his frantic calls for help were ignored. The shooter was neutralized by the Secret Service counter-sniper team, few seconds after he opened fire.

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Trump was taken to a medical facility after the incident. (Videograb)


"…Probably 5 to 7 minutes of Trump speaking...We noticed the guy bear-crawling up the roof of the building...50 feet away from us. So we're standing there pointing at the guy crawling up the roof...We can clearly see him with a rifle. We are pointing at him. The police are there running around on the ground," the man told BBC, adding that the security didn't pay any heed to them even after he was pointing “at the barn for 2-3 minutes.”
 

Another eyewitness, who was present only "100 feet away" from the former US president old ABC News, "I was a heartbeat away from Trump. He was talking and having a good time." He further added that after the third shot, "things got serious." "We had no idea what to do or whether to run."

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Recalling the incident, the man said that Trump dodged and lied down on the ground with the Secret Services covering him.

Calling the situation very "stressful", the man said that it took 10 minutes for them to get out of the venue. He further recounted that there was heavy security and there was long jam outside the venue.
 

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06:31 IST, July 14th 2024