Donald Trump shot: how the shooter was able to sneak onto the roof ? The Secret Service under fire

Cette tentative d’assassinat du 13 juillet 2024 devrait aboutir à un réexamen en profondeur des mesures de sécurité autour de Donald Trump. XinHua – Hu Yousong/Maxppp

The Republican camp is demanding accountability from the security services after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, wondering how a man was able to climb on the roof of a building without attracting attention and shoot several people repeated in the direction of the former American president, candidate in the presidential election of November 5.

Donald Trump was slightly injured in the right ear this Saturday, July 13, 2024, as he began his speech at a meeting in Pennsylvania.

A member of the public was killed and the shooter was shot dead. Two spectators were injured.

The Secret Service, the close protection service of American presidents and former presidents, is the subject of the strongest criticism. A committee of the House of Representatives will hear its director, Kimberly Cheatle, on July 22, whose resignation billionaire Elon Musk has demanded. Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said that officials from the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI would be interviewed soon.

Outside the security perimeter?

Although information about the incident at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, remains sketchy, it appears that the shooter was outside the security perimeter set up for the event.

A witness interviewed by the BBC said he saw the gunman and tried unsuccessfully to alert police and the Secret Service. The latter was not represented at a press conference held Saturday night by the FBI and police. He said shortly after the incident that he had opened an investigation and informed President Joe Biden. He has not answered any questions from the media about his procedures.

“I saw the guy on the roof”

“How did a gunman with a rifle sneak up on a rooftop so close to a presidential candidate ?”, conservative activist Jack Posobiec asked about ;quot; the number of shots fired by the attacker.

Ben Maser, a 41-year-old welder attending the meeting outside the security perimeter, said he noticed that two police officers were obviously looking for an individual. "I saw the guy on the roof. I told the policeman that he was up there. He went looking for her", said this witness.

Another level of protection

This assassination attempt should lead to an in-depth review of the security measures around Donald Trump, who should now benefit from a level of protection similar to that of a sitting president, according to the President. rsquo;former Secret Service agent Josep LaSorsa. "There's going to be a massive realignment", he said. "The seriousness of the situation requires careful examination in order to avoid such failures in the future and to identify responsibilities at all levels" , added another former close service agent, who remained anonymous.

Metal detector, excavation…

The Secret Service recently said it had strengthened the means deployed to ensure the protection of the former president, who is to be inaugurated this week as a candidate at the Republican Party convention. Most of Donald Trump's campaign rallies are held outdoors, attract thousands of people and last several hours.

Local police usually assist the Secret Service in securing the event location. Before the candidate’s arrival aboard a convoy of armored cars, the police establish a security perimeter using barriers. Members of the public must pass through a metal detector, open their bags, even their wallets, and many are subject to a pat-down search.