In a shocking revelation, the FBI has disclosed that the gu.nman who attempted to assa.ssinate former President Donald Trump had conducted online research on a member of the British Royal Family just days before his violent attack.
The assai.lant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was fatally shot by the US Secret Service after he opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Investigators revealed to Congress that Crooks had scoured the internet for information on several high-profile individuals as he plotted his attack, including an unnamed member of the Royal Family.
Trump shooter Thomas Crooks researched Royal family while planning attack
Further investigations revealed that Crooks had also searched online for FBI Director Christopher Wray and US Attorney General Merrick Garland. His online activity indicated a meticulous plan formulated just days before the attack. According to lawyers for the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, Crooks visited a local club the day before the incident, where he practiced at the rifle range.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that Crooks had purchased ammunition both online and in person shortly before the attack. Additionally, he requested a day off from his job on the day of the shooting, assuring his employer that he would return the following day.
In the aftermath of Saturday’s assassination attempt, FBI agents have been scrutinizing Crooks’s potential motives by examining the content of two mobile phones he possessed. These devices contained images of Trump and President Joe Biden, as well as dates of upcoming rallies and the Democratic National Convention, set to take place in Chicago next month.
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The incident has sparked fresh accusations of incompetence against the US Secret Service, which is under fire for failing to adequately protect Trump, who sustained an injury to his right ear during the attack. The agency had reportedly been alerted to a “suspicious person” near the stage an hour before the incident, and Crooks had been removed from the venue after triggering a metal detector.
As the investigation continues, the FBI is working to piece together the full extent of Crooks’s plans and motivations, aiming to prevent future threats to high-profile individuals.
