Headlines
Gunman, Other Shot Dead As Trump Escapes Assassination Attempt
A gunman and an audience member have died after an assassination attempt on Donald Trump – with the former president escaping with a bullet wound to his ear.
It happened early on Saturday evening as Trump was giving a speech to supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The FBI named the attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks and the Secret Service said he fired “multiple shots” from an “elevated position”.
Crooks was killed by police snipers.
Two others were also critically injured in the incident – and all three victims were men.
Trump, who ducked below the podium as the shooting began, said a bullet pierced the upper part of his 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,” he said on social media.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of law enforcement, for their rapid response,” Trump added.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.”
The incident unfolded as Trump was on stage giving a speech. He suddenly hit the floor clutching his ear as a series of shots rang out and people screamed.
He was mobbed by Secret Service agents and stayed down for around a minute as they shielded him.
Trump was helped to his feet with a bloodied ear, pumped his fist in the air and shouted “fight” before being bundled away into a vehicle.
The Secret Service said he was “safe” and it was treating the incident as an attempted assassination.
“He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility,” said Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung.
Footage shows a building with a white roof, about 100m from where Trump was speaking, with what appears to be a body and a rifle on top.
‘Suspicious packages’
“There was identification of suspicious packages around where the shooter was and so we deployed – in an abundance of caution – bomb assets to make sure they were cleared for investigators to move safely in the area,” added Mr Rojek.
George Bivens, from Pennsylvania State Police, said they were urgently investigating whether anyone else was involved.
Hours after the attempt on his life, Trump was pictured giving a brief wave as he left his plane in Newark, New Jersey.
Source: SkyNews
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday, held a crucial meeting with service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies in the country
The crucial meeting took place at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja, followed reports of a directive by the President of United States, Donald Trump to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over the alleged genocide of Christians in the country.
Security sources hinted that the emergency meeting, which began in the afternoon was aimed at assessing the implications of Trump’s statement accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militant groups.
Trump’s remarks, made late Saturday, stated that the U.S. military was being prepared to “act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy” a statement that had triggered widespread concern across diplomatic and security circles in Abuja.
Reports said that the NSA convened the session to coordinate a unified national security response and review intelligence assessments on the potential fallout of the U.S. president’s pronouncement.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to be communicated through official channels from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
