The suspect arrested in connection with the investigation into the alleged assassination attempt against Donald Trump was charged Monday with illegal possession of a weapon. According to the Secret Service, he did not shoot. The FBI announced Sunday that it was opening an investigation into “an alleged assassination attempt” targeting, for the second time in two months, Donald Trump, the former president and candidate for the White House. France 24 takes stock of the elements known to date.
Two months after escaping an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, former US president and White House candidate Donald Trump found himself once again at the centre of a shooting on Sunday 15 September, while he was on the course of his golf club at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The suspect arrested on Sunday in the investigation into this alleged attempted assassination was charged on Monday, September 16, with illegal possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number.
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Shots during a golf game
Table of Contents
- 1 Shots during a golf game
- 2 FBI opens investigation into ‘alleged assassination attempt’
- 3 “Violence has no place in America,” says Kamala Harris
- 4 Condemnations from the international community
- 5 What details are known about the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his golf club in Florida?
The incident took place shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday, as the former president was enjoying one of his favorite activities at his golf club in Palm Beach, Florida.
At a news conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said a man was spotted by the former president’s security detail outside the golf course pointing a gun through the fence as Trump played.
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Several security officers then opened fire. The man escaped and fled in a black car. A witness helped police identify the vehicle and authorities found it.
An AK-47 rifle with a scope was also found at the scene, as well as two backpacks and video recording equipment, authorities said at a press conference.
According to the conclusions made from the tracking of his phone, this man would have spent nearly 12 hours in the vicinity of Trump’s golf club before being spotted.
The teams of the 78-year-old billionaire and Republican tribune, for their part, quickly transmitted to the press text messages and messages from Donald Trump in which he was reassuring: “Don’t worry, I am safe and I am fine. No one has been hurt. Thank God.”
In an email to supporters shortly after the incident, the Republican candidate said: “There have been shots fired in the neighborhood, but before the rumors start to get out of hand, I wanted to first let you know this: I AM SAFE AND HEALTHY! Nothing will slow me down. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!”
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FBI opens investigation into ‘alleged assassination attempt’
The US Federal Police announced shortly after in a statement that they were investigating “what appears to be an assassination attempt against former President Trump.” The Secret Service, an elite police unit responsible for protecting presidents, former presidents and high-profile political figures, which has also opened an investigation into the shooting, said Monday evening that the arrested suspect “did not fire a shot.”
Spotted by a Secret Service agent who opened fire on him, “the suspect, who had no line of sight to the former president, fled. He did not shoot,” said the acting director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, at a press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Also read: Protecting Donald Trump: a headache for the Secret Service?
Authorities have appealed to anyone “who can assist in the investigation” to contact the FBI if they have information.
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“We have someone in custody who is a potential suspect,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed, adding that the alleged shooter’s motives are not known.
For its part, AFP interviewed him in 2022 in kyiv, where he had gone to support the Ukrainian people. “I AM READY TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER, FIGHT AND DIE… Can I be the example that we must win?” wrote Ryan Wesley Routh in a message on Twitter (since become X), in March 2022.
Ryan Wesley Routh appeared before a judge on Monday. His next court appearance, on his continued detention, was set for September 23, and his formal arraignment a week later.
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“Violence has no place in America,” says Kamala Harris
The event comes in an already crazy campaign, which this summer saw the Republican candidate escape a first assassination attempt, Democratic President Joe Biden throw in the towel and his vice-president Kamala Harris replace him at short notice.
Donald Trump on Monday, September 16, blamed this new alleged assassination attempt on the “rhetoric” of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The Republican candidate told Fox News that the suspect “adheres to Biden and Harris’ rhetoric, and acts accordingly.” “Their rhetoric is getting me shot,” the former US president denounced.
The day before, Joe Biden said he was “relieved” that his rival had “not been hit” and praised the “work of the Secret Service and federal law enforcement partners.” In a statement from the White House, the outgoing president reaffirmed that there was “no place for political violence or any form of violence in our country.”
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Joe Biden also said on Monday that the Secret Service, responsible for protecting the American president and former presidents, “needs more help.”
“I was informed of the shooting near former President Trump and his property in Florida and I am pleased that he is safe. Violence has no place in America,” Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate for November 5, reacted on X.
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Condemnations from the international community
Condemnations are multiplying in the international community on Monday morning. “Political violence has no place anywhere in the world,” Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. “It is a good thing that the suspect in the assassination attempt was apprehended quickly,” he added, without mentioning the suspect’s connection to Ukraine – the individual having been identified as a supporter of kyiv against Russia by several media outlets, including AFP.
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“I think it’s really important that we make it clear that violence should have no place in any democratic process,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters in Rome, where he is due to meet with his counterpart Giorgia Meloni.
The Kremlin, for its part, considered that this new alleged assassination attempt was a sign of an intensification of the election campaign for the presidential election in November. “We are of course closely following the information coming from the United States, we see how tense the situation is there, including between political rivals, the political struggle is intensifying and various methods are being used,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian presidency, during his daily telephone briefing with Russian and foreign media.
With AFP
What details are known about the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his golf club in Florida?
Donald Trump Targeted in Alleged Assassination Attempt at Florida Golf Club
Former US President and White House candidate Donald Trump has found himself at the center of another alleged assassination attempt, just two months after a similar incident in Pennsylvania. On Sunday, September 15, shots were fired at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, prompting a swift response from the Secret Service and the FBI.
Shots Fired at Trump’s Golf Game
The incident occurred just before 2 pm on Sunday, as Trump was enjoying a round of golf at his private club. A man was spotted by the former president’s security detail pointing a gun through the fence as Trump played. Several security officers immediately opened fire, and the suspect fled in a black car.
Arrest and Charges
Following a swift investigation, the suspect was apprehended and charged on Monday with illegal possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff, the suspect was tracked to a nearby location, where an AK-47 rifle with a scope, two backpacks, and video recording equipment were found.
FBI Investigation
The FBI has announced that it is investigating the incident as an “alleged assassination attempt” against Trump. The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the former president, has also launched an investigation into the shooting. In a statement, the agency confirmed that the arrested suspect “did not fire a shot.”
Trump’s Response
Trump quickly took to social media to reassure his supporters, stating, “Don’t worry, I am safe and I am fine. No one has been hurt. Thank God.” In an email to supporters, he added, “There have been shots fired in the neighborhood, but before the rumors start to get out of hand, I wanted to first let you know this: I AM SAFE AND HEALTHY! Nothing will slow me down. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!”
Investigation Ongoing
The FBI has appealed to anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events surrounding the alleged assassination attempt.
Previous Incident
This is not the first time Trump has been targeted in an alleged assassination attempt. In July, a similar incident occurred at a rally in Pennsylvania, highlighting the ongoing security concerns surrounding the former president.
Protecting Trump: A Challenge for the Secret Service
The Secret Service has a daunting task in protecting Trump, who is known for his unpredictable behavior and frequent public appearances. The agency has faced criticism in the past for its handling of security breaches, and this latest incident is likely to raise further questions about its ability to keep the former president safe.
As the investigation into the alleged assassination attempt continues, one thing is clear: the security surrounding Trump will need to be reviewed and reinforced to prevent future incidents of this nature.
Keywords: Donald Trump, alleged assassination attempt, Florida golf club, Secret Service, FBI, investigation, security concerns, White House candidate.
Meta Description: Former US President Donald Trump has been targeted in an alleged assassination attempt at his Florida golf club. The FBI and Secret Service have launched investigations into the incident, which has raised concerns about Trump’s security.
Header Tags:
H1: Donald Trump Targeted in Alleged Assassination Attempt at Florida Golf Club
H2: Shots Fired at Trump’s Golf Game
H2: FBI Investigation
H2: Trump’s Response
H2: Investigation Ongoing
H2: Previous Incident
* H2: Protecting Trump: A Challenge for the Secret Service
