How did a shooter end up on the roof of a building about 130 meters from the podium where Donald Trump was beginning his speech?
We still don’t know – and that is THE question that investigators will have to answer.
“There was clearly a failure in security,” said Joseph Sordi, CEO of the private security firm Strategic Security Corp in New York State, reached by video conference.
The roof where Thomas Matthew Crooks, identified as the shooter, was located had been identified as a potentially vulnerable location, according to security sources cited by NBC News.
However, he apparently managed to climb the building unhindered.
PHOTO REBECCA DROKE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The presidential candidate was quickly escorted by the Secret Service
Mr. Sordi, a former New York Police Department officer, points to a possible labor problem, as law enforcement agencies face shortages, he says.
The FBI is currently investigating the circumstances of the assassination attempt, which also left one person dead and two seriously injured. Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle is scheduled to testify before a House committee on July 22 to answer questions from lawmakers.
Had the suspect’s presence been reported?
Two minutes before the shooting, spectators had called out to a police officer, alerting him to the presence of a man lying on a roof, according to a video authenticated by the New York Times. “He’s on the roof!” a woman is heard shouting. A police officer is seen walking along the wall of the building.
The sheriff of the county where the rally was held confirmed to Washington Post that a police officer from a local service had seen the shooter, without being able to prevent his action.
It’s possible that a Secret Service sniper stationed on another rooftop saw the man crawling but didn’t immediately spot his weapon, former Secret Service agent Anthony Cangelosi told NBC News. He could have asked a police officer to check if it was a real threat so he wouldn’t shoot a bystander, he added.
The gunman was shot dead quickly after firing at the former president.
Who was responsible for Donald Trump’s security on Saturday?
The Secret Service, in collaboration with local police services.
As a former president, Donald Trump is entitled to protection from this government agency for the rest of his life. Official candidates for president and vice president are also entitled to these services in the 120 days before a presidential election.
Before an event, officials survey the grounds. The perimeter is divided into zones: Secret Service agents provide close guard for the former president. A secure area, with metal detectors, screens members of the public. The outer circle should extend as far as the threat can occur, Sordi said.
It appears that the building where the shooter was located was outside the first secure circle.
Joe Biden said in remarks Sunday that he has asked the head of the Secret Service to review security measures for the Republican National Convention this week in Milwaukee.
What are the main security challenges of such a gathering?
Experts have highlighted the additional challenges brought by outdoor gatherings, such as the one on Saturday night.
“It’s extremely difficult to weigh the level of threats; the long-range threat, like a shot from a rifle, versus the threat of direct action up close, like someone planting a bomb or jumping on the stage, for example,” Sordi said.
So officials need to put a series of measures in place – all of which require resources, he says. “You have to look at the threats, calculate the resources you have and the vulnerability,” he adds. “And also, the probability that the threat will materialize.”
The rule is to quickly evacuate the targeted person, in case another threat arises after the first security problem.
“But the security services are also there to ensure the safety of other people on site, not just the beneficiary,” notes Mr. Sordi.
With BBC, NBC News, Tea Washington Post And The New York Times