BBC reporter describes moment he had to take cover on the ground after 'half a dozen shots' fired during Donald Trump assassination attempt

A BBC newsman has described nan infinitesimal he had to return screen connected nan crushed aft 'half a dozen' shots were fired during Donald Trump's assassination effort past night.

Gary O'Donoghue, 55, was filmed lying connected a writer slope down his car conscionable aft 10 minutes into nan erstwhile president's reside erstwhile he heard gunshots.

As members of nan nationalist ran down nan thoroughfare down him, nan governmental analogous said: 'While we were conscionable astir to spell unrecorded connected nan BBC World Service, we heard immoderate shots fired astir apt a fewer 100 metres from wherever we were standing'.

Recalling nan terrifying experience, he said he heard astir 'half a dozen' gunshots arsenic good arsenic a female shouting that personification had been shooting.

'A feline came by and said he thought location had been a mates of snipers but he wasn't sure,' O'Donoghue added.

Crouched connected nan crushed successful beforehand of a group of advertisements nan newsman explained he and his squad were waiting to spot if things had cleared while hiding down their 'not ideal' shelter of their vehicle.

The reside had ended, and nan unsighted journalist revealed he could nary longer perceive Trump speaking arsenic he attempted to ascertain what had happened astatine nan scene.

On Saturday evening astatine 6:15pm, erstwhile US President Donald Trump was nan target of an assassination effort while he delivered a reside astatine a rally successful Butler, Pennsylvania.

The gunman has since been revealed arsenic 20-year-old registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

It has since emerged done national run finance records that the gunman was a registered Republican who had antecedently made a $15 aid to nan wide ActBlue governmental action committee connected January 20, 2021 - Biden's Inauguration Day.

From a rooftop located astir 150 yards from Trump's stage, Crooks fired astatine slightest 8 shots earlier nan erstwhile president was seen clutching his bloody ear.

Footage of nan infinitesimal shows Trump being instantly ushered distant by nan US Secret Service arsenic nan crowd descended into chaos.

But successful a show of strength, Trump emerged from nan screen of nan suited agents and raised a fist, shouting: 'Fight, fight, fight', earlier he was rushed to hospital.

Crooks had killed a personnel of nan crowd and critically injured 2 others earlier he was gunned down by nan Secret Service.

The shooter was killed aft he fired from an 'elevated position' extracurricular nan outdoor rally venue, according to nan Secret Service. 

Images show astatine slightest 4 members of rule enforcement surrounding nan bloody gunman and nan AR-15-type semiautomatic firearm he utilized connected nan roof, while they constituent their guns towards his body.

During nan attack, Crooks appeared to beryllium wearing merchandise promoting 1 of YouTube's astir celebrated channels devoted to firearms - Demolition Ranch - NBC News reported. 

According to Pennsylvania's nationalist tribunal records, Crooks had nary criminal history and officials claimed they are still moving towards identifying a motive down nan shooting. 

His father, Matthew Crooks told CNN precocious connected Saturday nighttime that he was trying to fig retired 'what nan hellhole is going on' but would 'wait until I talk to rule enforcement' earlier speaking astir his son. 

Officials person released nary further accusation astir nan shooter.

'This remains an progressive and ongoing investigation,' nan FBI said successful a connection early Sunday. 

Last nighttime a explosive squad and agents from nan Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were astatine an reside registered to Crooks arsenic cops stood defender successful beforehand of yellowish constabulary be aware tape.

Trump flew backmost to New Jersey up of his spending nan nighttime astatine his play edifice successful Bedminster.

In a station to his Truth Social network, Trump thanked nan Secret Service and different rule enforcement 'for their accelerated response'.

'I knew instantly that thing was incorrect successful that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and instantly felt nan slug ripping done nan skin,' he said connected societal media.

'Much bleeding took place, truthful I realised past what was happening.

'I want to convey The United States Secret Service, and each of rule enforcement, for their accelerated response,' Trump added.

'Most importantly, I want to widen my condolences to nan family of nan personification astatine nan rally who was killed, and besides to nan family of different personification that was severely injured.

'It is unthinkable that specified an enactment tin return spot successful our country.

'GOD BLESS AMERICA!'

The shooter appeared to person graduated successful 2022 from Bethel Park High School, and received a $500 'star award' that twelvemonth from nan National Math and Science Initiative, a study from The Tribune-Review successful occidental Pennsylvania.

In an online signaling of nan 2022 graduation ceremony, he tin beryllium seen crossing nan shape arsenic nan crowd applauds him, earlier concisely posing pinch a schoolhouse charismatic and accepting his diploma.