United States authorities discovered explosive devices in the vehicle of a man who allegedly attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources.
The car, driven by the suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, was found near the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Both the Wall Street Journal and ABC News reported that the gun used by Crooks was purchased by his father.
CNN further reported that explosive materials were also found in Crooks’ residence.
The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt.
Trump, who is once again a candidate for the US presidential elections, was attacked during a campaign rally. He was shot in the ear, causing blood to streak across his face and prompting a rapid response from his security agents. Despite the attack, Trump emerged and signaled to the crowd, mouthing “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by the Secret Service immediately after firing multiple shots at Trump.
The US Secret Service released a statement saying the shooter “fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally” before being “neutralized” by agents.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. Much bleeding took place.” However, his campaign confirmed that he was “doing well.”
The shooting occurred less than four months before the November 5 election, where Trump faces a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Most opinion polls, including those by Reuters/Ipsos, show the two candidates in a close contest.
In response, Biden stated: “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
