Donald Trump’s shooter had explosive devices in his car, according to authorities.
The car, driven by Thomas Matthew Crooks, was parked near to the rally, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sources close to the investigation said explosives were found in the vehicle.
The 20-year-old has been identified as the shooter who killed one person, critically injured two others, and shot the former president while he was on stage.
He used a gun bought by his father to carry out the shooting and law enforcement is trying to work out the motive behind the attack.
There were also multiple reports of suspicious packages near Crooks, prompting police to dispatch bomb technicians, according to those briefed on the investigation.
Officials cleared the scene well into the night before searching the shooter’s family home, and a neighbour told the New York Post that a bomb squad had informed them of explosives at the home.
The incident occurred in Pennsylvania during a campaign rally for the Republican nominee, who afterwards said God “prevented the unthinkable from happening”.
He wrote on Truth Social: “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right 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. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
Federal authorities are treating it as an assassination attempt after Crooks, who was shot dead by Secret Service agents, fired shots at the former president from a nearby roof.
The Republican National Committee confirmed that Trump is doing well following the shooting and is thankful for law enforcement and first responders. He’s due to speak at the Republican National Convention in the coming week.
Joe Biden also spoke out against the “sick” incident. He said: “[There is] no place in America for this sort of violence. It’s sick.”
Crooks’ father Matthew spoke to CNN following the shooting, saying he’s trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” and will “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before saying more.
