Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt on Sunday, as confirmed by the FBI. The incident occurred while Trump was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago residence. The Republican presidential candidate was unharmed, and law enforcement quickly took action to neutralize the threat.
According to the US Secret Service, one or more agents opened fire on a suspect armed with an “AK-47 style rifle” and a scope. The suspect had been hiding in shrubbery near the golf course and fled in a black car after the confrontation. A witness helped authorities identify and track down the vehicle. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed that a potential suspect is currently in custody. Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, reassured the public with a statement: “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity.” Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris also expressed relief over Trump’s safety, stating, “I am glad he is safe.”
In a fundraising message posted on his website, Trump said, “Fear not! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!” Despite this reassurance, uncertainty remains about whether the suspect fired any shots at Trump. The FBI is investigating the incident as an attempted assassination. This incident follows a similar situation in July, where Trump was wounded in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive behind Sunday’s attack.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence, stating, “There is no place for political violence or any violence ever in our country.” He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the Secret Service has all the necessary resources for protection. The Secret Service, facing scrutiny after the Pennsylvania shooting, is under intense review once again. Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the agency, resigned amid the previous controversy, leading to administrative changes within the agency.
Representative Elise Stefanik criticized the latest security lapse, questioning how the suspect managed to get so close to Trump. “We expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida,” she said. The investigation into the Florida incident is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies working to determine the full extent of the threat and the motives behind the attack.
In other news – Fire destroys decommissioned trains at NRZ Bulawayo workshops
A fire erupted at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) mechanical workshops in Bulawayo on Monday afternoon, destroying fifteen decommissioned trains. The blaze, which started around 1:30 PM, was confined to trains awaiting disposal and, fortunately, did not cause any injuries. According to a press statement from the NRZ, the damaged trains were decommissioned coaches designated for scrap. The statement confirmed that there were no injuries or casualties reported from the incident.
“The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) informs the nation of a fire outbreak at the company’s mechanical workshops in Bulawayo this afternoon (16/09/2024). Fortunately, there were no injuries reported,” the statement said. Read More
