Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was safe yesterday after the FBI foiled what appeared to be an assassination attempt while he was golfing on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Law enforcement officials say Secret Service agents spotted and fired on a gunman in bushes near the property line of the golf course, a few hundred yards from where Trump was playing.
They say the suspect left an AK-47-style assault rifle and other items at the scene and fled in a vehicle but was later arrested.
The apparent attempt on Trump's life came just two months after he was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, sustaining a minor injury to his right ear.
It was not clear if or how the suspect knew Trump was playing golf at the time, but the attempted attack was sure to raise new questions about the level of protection he is given.
Palm Beach County Sheriff says Secret Service agents saw a rifle barrel poking out from bushes about 400 to 500 yards (365 to 460 meters) away from Trump as they cleared holes of potential threats ahead of his play.
The agents engaged the gunman, firing at least four rounds of ammunition around.
The gunman then dropped his rifle, left behind two backpacks and other items, and fled in a black Nissan car.
The sheriff said a witness saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate before he escaped.
Source: Reuters
