WASHINGTON: Donald Trump, former US President and the Republican candidate for the 2024 election, was safe after gunshots were fired near his golf club in Florida on Sunday, according to the US Secret Service.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said they are probing the incident as an ‘attempted assassination’.
The Secret Service officials opened fire on a person after spotting him with a firearm near the golf club shortly before 2 pm on Sunday (11.00 pm Pakistan Time), according to officials.
The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested and has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh. The authorities are yet to determine his motive.
Trump, immediately after the incident, said in an email to his supporters that he is safe and asserted that he “will never surrender”.
The FBI, in a statement, said that the agency “has responded to West Palm Beach, Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump”.
Trump was reportedly golfing at the club when the firing took place outside it. The Secret Service agents then escorted him to a holding room at the club, the Washington Post reported. According to officials, the gunman was about 300-500 yards (275-450 metres) away from Trump.
“Suspect was armed with an AK-47-style rifle with a scope. He also had a GoPro. The gunman was about 300-500 yards away from Trump. The Secret Service engaged the suspect, firing at least four shots. Unclear whether the suspect fired any shots,” the officials said in a press briefing.
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As the officials opened fire, the gunman dropped his rifle, two backpacks, and other items before fleeing in a car.
A witness managed to take photos of his car and licence plate, which helped the police arrest him within hours in nearby Martin County.
No injuries were reported in the shooting incident, according to a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed about the incident and were relieved to know that he was safe.
Commenting on the second assassination attempt on Trump, Biden said, there is no place for any kind of violence in the United States.
“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” he said in a statement.
This incident occurred roughly two months after Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear, causing minor injuries. His security measures were significantly beefed up following this shooting on July 13.