The US Secret Service, against the backdrop of information that Iran is allegedly planning an assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump, has strengthened his personal security with an anti-assault team, drones and robot dogs, CBS reports, citing US officials.
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Earlier, the media, citing two high-ranking American officials familiar with intelligence reports, reported that US intelligence does not rule out new attempts to assassinate former President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. According to the publication, the US intelligence community is receiving increasing evidence that Iran is allegedly actively working on plots to assassinate Trump, likely ahead of the November elections. CNN also reported, citing informed sources, that US intelligence services received information that Iran was allegedly planning to “eliminate” Trump, which prompted the US authorities to strengthen security measures for the former owner of the White House. At the same time, Tehran previously rejected all such accusations, calling them baseless and malicious.
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“Upon learning of the increased threat, the National Security Council contacted the Secret Service. In response, the Secret Service increased resources and assets to protect Trump in June. Additional resources were made available, including counter-assault team personnel, counter-sniper team personnel, drones and robot dogs,” – the channel said in a statement.
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Trump interrupted a public appearance in Pennsylvania last Saturday because of the shooting. The video footage shows the politician being taken away by the arm by security, his ear bleeding. Trump later said he was shot in the ear and lost a lot of blood. The US Secret Service said it had killed a suspect who fired several shots towards the stage. One of the spectators, a 50-year-old former firefighter, was killed in the shooting, and two others were critically injured.
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The suspect is 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania, the state where the rally took place. He was reported to be hiding on the roof of a production building about 100 meters from the stage – outside the area where the event was being held. The FBI called the incident an attempt on Trump’s life.
On the night of January 3, 2020, as a result of an operation carried out by the United States in the area of Baghdad International Airport, Iranian general, commander of the IRGC special forces Qasem Soleimani and deputy head of the Iraqi Shiite militia Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed. In Washington, they are considered involved in organizing the attack on the American embassy in Baghdad on December 31, 2019. In response, Iran launched strikes on American bases in Iraq, including Ain al-Assad.
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani Iran said Iran is determined to hold former US President Donald Trump accountable for his role in the assassination of General Soleimani, but rejects any accusations that Tehran was involved in the recent assassination attempt on Trump.
