The unraveling of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump: A detailed account | US News

A man has attempted to kill Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

As shots rang out, the former president dropped to the ground with his ear covered in blood and was swiftly rushed off-stage by security staff.

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One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured in the attack.

The gunman, who has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service at the scene.

Here’s how the incident unfolded minute by minute:

6.03pm (11.03pm UK time) – Mr Trump took to the stage of his campaign rally in Butler, a city about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. He waved to the crowd as God Bless the USA played, and quickly started speaking.

6.11pm (11.11pm) – Multiple shots were fired toward the stage. Mr Trump grabbed his ear and then dropped to the ground.

In footage of that moment, which you can watch below, someone could be heard shouting “fire, fire, fire”.

6.12pm (11.12pm) – Secret Service agents jumped on top of the 78-year-old to shield him. “Are we good to move”, someone could be heard saying.

“Let me get my shoes,” Mr Trump said, before telling the agents to wait while he raised a defiant fist to the crowd.

He was then bundled off the stage and into a waiting armoured car.

6.14pm (11.14pm) – Mr Trump’s motorcade left the event

6.42pm (11.42pm) – The Secret Service confirmed an incident at the rally and that Mr Trump was “safe”.

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In pictures: Gunman fires multiple shots at Trump rally

7.03pm (12.03am) – Trump’s campaign team issued a statement confirming he was “fine” and being checked at a local medical facility.

7.10pm (12.10am) – Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said there had been reports one man in the crowd had been killed in the incident.

7.28pm (12.28am) – The person believed to be the gunman was confirmed dead by Mr Goldinger. He also confirmed an audience member had been killed and another person was in critical condition.

7.50pm (12.50am) – Law enforcement officials told the Associated Press news agency that the shooting was being investigated as an assassination attempt.

7.55pm (12.55am) – US President Joe Biden released a statement saying he had been briefed on the incident and was praying for Trump.

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America,” he said.

“We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

Around 20 minutes later, he held a short televised briefing where he said he was trying to call Mr Trump to speak to him as soon as possible.

“The rally should have been able to be conducted peacefully without any problems. But the idea, the idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of – it’s just not appropriate,” he said.

“Everybody must condemn it, everybody.”

8.15pm (1.15am) – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the “shocking scenes” at the rally. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies, and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack,” he added.

8.42pm (1.42am) – Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social site saying he had been shot in the upper part of his right ear and “much bleeding took place”.

He thanked the Secret Service for their “rapid response” and sent his condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed.

“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,” he said.

“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.”