Trump shooting: the security failures that let gunman mount assassination attempt | BBC News

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania exposed a series of security lapses that allowed the gunman to mount his assassination attempt.

The gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to access a roof around 130 meters from the podium where Mr Trump was speaking.

It’s the job of the US Secret Service to protect sitting and former presidents. Somehow the gunman managed to breach the security perimeter with a rifle and reach an elevated position close to Mr Trump.

Video of the attack and the accounts of eyewitnesses suggest that members of the crowd became aware of the threat before the police and other security officials and attempted to alert them to the danger It was only when the gunman opened fire that officials recognised the danger and responded, with Thomas Crooks shot dead by armed officers.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Gary O’Donoghue, Tom Bateman and Sarah Smith.

#BBCNews

[toddferguson]

Us Americans have to watch foreign media to get the truth. Thank you for actual journalism

[ArtificialIntelligenceGlobalNe]

ONE MAN, witness says: "We Noticed the Guy" "50 feet from us!!" "We're Pointing at him" "He had a Rifle" "We can CLEARLY SEE HIM with the Rifle!" "We're Pointing at him" "Hey man there is a Guy on the Roof with a Rifle" "And the police like Uh?" SERIOUSLY!!

[yassirmahdi]

How did a random 20 year-old with no official marksmanship or military training know the exact ingress point to breach the secret service's security without help?

[gandhi]

It's not about the 20 year old, but the jawdropping security gaps, with no security on a roof with direct line to Trump, failure to respond to public pointing out the 20 year old climbing onto the roof with a rifle, police officer, going up the ladder to confront the 20 year old, but then climbing down, 2 security officers watching the 20 year old with a rifle for at least 42 seconds before the incident, but doing nothing, security guards around Trump not following protocol to the letter, a flag freely waving in the wind near Trump, which all security guards know can help a target sniper. Etc...

[lonestar]

Why is it that BBC and SkyNews have better reporting on US politics than any American company?

[mattvjmeasures]

US politics is so toxic at the moment. It's so sad.

[DrMarten]

As an American. I really wouldn't say.... We are in shock! More like. Oh. I'm not surprised.

[danzap]

"Political violence in America is unheard of" - Biden
"Nope" - Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Ronald Regan, George W. Bush, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert F. Kennedy, George C Wallace.

[squid_fish]

Thank you to the UK BBC for reporting like US mainstream never could 😒

[mr.fanstastic]

If you can't protect kids in schools, how are you going to protect a politician on a stage?

[luxxus]

All those in shock have NOT been paying attention.

[joselaverniyabut]

Investigate the police officers that was told there’s someone on the roof with rifle and was ignored ?😢

[Melissa-SC]

That’s terrifying! No one deserves that. And that poor man who was killed and the injured people is just heartbreaking. Just shocking.

[IbexThaGoat]

This is a crazy time to be living. Matter fact the last 20 years, we've seen so many changes to society and technology. It's insane.

[jeffdumpster]

The Secret Service is keeping secrets.

3:24 people walking in the background are is that guy doing?

[LisaLee__]

This notion that the US has to come together after this tragedy is just not true.. everyone feels something fishy is going on even the attendees.

[Randomness]

Why is the reporter lying on the ground when people are walking casually behind him? Trying to dramatize?

[brenohds]

No matter what side you take on politics this is beyond horrifying 😢

[danielegelli]

How is it possibile that a 20 years old has been able to breach the security with no help from anyone and without any military training?