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.