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Donald Trump has been shot and injured in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally, which saw an audience member and the gunman killed.
The former president escaped with a bullet wound to his ear in the attack, which happened early on Saturday evening as the former president was giving a speech to supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The FBI named the attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks and the Secret Service said he fired “multiple shots” from an “elevated position”. Crooks, who according to state records was a registered Republican, was killed by police snipers.
Two others were also critically injured in the shooting – all three victims were men.
Trump, who ducked below the podium as the shooting began, said a bullet pierced the upper part of his 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 on social media.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of law enforcement, for their rapid response,” Trump added.
“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.”
The incident unfolded as Trump was on stage giving a speech. He suddenly hit the floor clutching his ear as a series of shots rang out and people screamed.
He was mobbed by Secret Service agents and stayed down for around a minute as they shielded him.
Trump was helped to his feet with a bloodied ear, pumped his fist in the air and shouted “fight” before being bundled away into a vehicle.
The Secret Service said he was “safe” and it was treating the incident as an attempted assassination.
“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility,” said Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung.
Footage shows a building with a white roof, about 100m from where Trump was speaking, with what appears to be a body and a rifle on top.
There are unconfirmed reports several people at the event tried to alert police and Secret Service to the gunman.
FBI special agent Kevin Rojek told reporters the gunman’s motive was so far unclear.
‘Suspicious packages’
“There was identification of suspicious packages around where the shooter was and so we deployed – in an abundance of caution – bomb assets to make sure they were cleared for investigators to move safely in the area,” added Mr Rojek.
George Bivens, from Pennsylvania State Police, said they were urgently investigating whether anyone else was involved.
Hours after the attempt on his life, Trump was pictured giving a brief wave as he left his plane in Newark, New Jersey.
