Trump assassination attempt: What we know


Jihan Abdalla
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Donald Trump was shot during a rally on Saturday, in an assassination attempt that has rattled the US as it heads towards the presidential elections in November.

What happened?

Trump, a Republican who is running against Democratic President Joe Biden, was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when shots were fired.

Secret Service agents quickly surrounded him, lifting him to his feet after he ducked behind a podium. Gunshots could still be heard as the agents escorted him off the stage.

  • Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by US Secret Service agents and helped off stage at a campaign rally. AP Photo
    Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by US Secret Service agents and helped off stage at a campaign rally. AP Photo
  • Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler. AP Photo
    Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler. AP Photo
  • Members of the crowd react as US Secret Service agents surround Trump at the campaign event in Butler. AP Photo
    Members of the crowd react as US Secret Service agents surround Trump at the campaign event in Butler. AP Photo
  • Trump is helped off stage by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler. AP Photo
    Trump is helped off stage by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler. AP Photo
  • Trump supporters laying in the stands after shots were fired at the campaign event. AFP
    Trump supporters laying in the stands after shots were fired at the campaign event. AFP
  • People scatter after gunfire rang out during the campaign rally in Pennsylvania. AFP
    People scatter after gunfire rang out during the campaign rally in Pennsylvania. AFP
  • Trump is rushed off stage after an incident during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. EPA
    Trump is rushed off stage after an incident during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. EPA
  • Blood is seen in the stands after shots were fired at Trump's campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. AFP
    Blood is seen in the stands after shots were fired at Trump's campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. AFP
  • Trump reacts as shots ring out during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Reuters
    Trump reacts as shots ring out during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Reuters
  • Secret Service agents dive to cover Trump after shots were heard. AP
    Secret Service agents dive to cover Trump after shots were heard. AP
  • Trump is covered by Secret Service agents on stage. AP
    Trump is covered by Secret Service agents on stage. AP
  • Trump is rushed off stage. EPA
    Trump is rushed off stage. EPA
  • Trump is shown covered by Secret Service agents. AFP
    Trump is shown covered by Secret Service agents. AFP
  • Blood can be seen on Trump's head after shots were heard. AFP
    Blood can be seen on Trump's head after shots were heard. AFP
  • Trump is taken away from rally. ABC/ US Network Pool / Reuters
    Trump is taken away from rally. ABC/ US Network Pool / Reuters
  • Supporters look on as Trump is rushed off stage. EPA
    Supporters look on as Trump is rushed off stage. EPA
  • Trump is pushed into a vehicle by Secret Service agents. AP
    Trump is pushed into a vehicle by Secret Service agents. AP
  • A person is removed by state police from the stands after the shooting. AFP
    A person is removed by state police from the stands after the shooting. AFP
  • Secret Service agents surround the stage. AP
    Secret Service agents surround the stage. AP
  • Secret Service agents patrol after the incident. Reuters
    Secret Service agents patrol after the incident. Reuters
  • A Secret Service agent gives directions at the Trump rally. Getty Images / AFP
    A Secret Service agent gives directions at the Trump rally. Getty Images / AFP
  • The stage after the shooting. Reuters
    The stage after the shooting. Reuters
  • People watch the Trump rally on TV. AP
    People watch the Trump rally on TV. AP
  • A monitor displays news from Trump's rally. Bloomberg
    A monitor displays news from Trump's rally. Bloomberg
  • Trump gestures he leaves the stage at the campaign rally. AP Photo
    Trump gestures he leaves the stage at the campaign rally. AP Photo

The gunman was killed by law enforcement, and one spectator was killed and two others were critically injured.

The assailant was later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, but investigators said they had not identified a motive and were looking into the possibility that others may have been involved in the assassination attempt.

Trump was rushed to the hospital with blood streaming from his right ear.

US media reported scenes of “chaos” at the rally. Images showed chairs knocked over and yellow police tape around the stage.

What has Trump said?

Trump thanked the Secret Service for their response and expressed his condolences to the family of the person who was killed, on Truth Social.

“I was shot with a bullet that pieced the upper part of my right ear,” he wrote.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.

“Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.”

In a post on Sunday, he thanked those who had sent their thoughts and prayers.

"We will fear not, but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families," he wrote.

"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united, and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined, and not allowing evil to win."

What has Biden said?

Mr Biden, who was in Rehoboth, Delaware, for the weekend, condemned the shooting.

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's sick,” Mr Biden said in an emergency briefing.

“It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening.

“We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

What has the Secret Service said?

The Secret Service said the gunman had fired several shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue.

The agency said that the incident is being investigated by the FBI, but since then has offered few other details on the attack.

Videos on social media appeared to show the gunman taking up his position on a building roof and bystanders shouting in an attempt to alert security.

At a press conference of security and law agencies, Kevin Rojek, who runs the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, said it was "surprising" that security had apparently identified the location of the gunman, but failed to open fire on him before he shot at Trump.

The Secret Service were not present at the conference.

"They do the initial security assessments and determine where the different security locations should be,” Mr Rojek said. “And they’re the ones who are in charge of securing the scene.”

Separately, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whose department runs the Secret Service, said his officials were re-evaluating the security of the Biden and Trump campaigns and “taking every possible measure to ensure their safety".

Police told AP that an "AR-15-style rifle" had been recovered at the scene. The AR-15 is a similar weapon to the military M16 assault rifle, but lacks some features, such as fully automatic firing.

What happens next?

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Convention said that Trump is “doing well” and looks forward to attending the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He is expected to be officially nominated as the Republican nominee during the event.

The Biden campaign said it would temporarily pause television advertisements and other communications.

A number of Republican members of Congress have called for an investigation into the shooting as well as the events surrounding it.

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives, said that members of the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI will be invited to give evidence at hearings in the near future.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who took on the role in 2022 after 25 years in the service, will testify on July 22.

The biog

Favourite film: The Notebook  

Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey

Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela.           Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands

Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends

Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FOOTBALL TEST

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Scorers

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Man of the Match

 

Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?

Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.

They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.

“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.

He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EEtihad%20Airways%20operates%20seasonal%20flights%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20Nice%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Azur%20Airport.%20Services%20depart%20the%20UAE%20on%20Wednesdays%20and%20Sundays%20with%20outbound%20flights%20stopping%20briefly%20in%20Rome%2C%20return%20flights%20are%20non-stop.%20Fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C315%2C%20flights%20operate%20until%20September%2018%2C%202022.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Radisson%20Blu%20Hotel%20Nice%20offers%20a%20western%20location%20right%20on%20Promenade%20des%20Anglais%20with%20rooms%20overlooking%20the%20Bay%20of%20Angels.%20Stays%20are%20priced%20from%20%E2%82%AC101%20(%24114)%2C%20including%20taxes.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

Updated: July 15, 2024, 12:22 PM