International
Attempted assassination on Donald Trump thwarted at Florida golf club
Former President Donald Trump is safe following an attempted assassination at his Florida golf course on 15 September. The suspect was apprehended after gunfire near Trump’s location.
On 15 September 2024, former US President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The FBI is leading an investigation into the incident, with the suspect, now reportedly identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, reportedly in custody. Multiple officials have confirmed to US media outlets that Routh, a man in his late 50s, is the individual behind the failed attempt.
The incident unfolded at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time while Trump was golfing with donor Steve Witkoff.
According to law enforcement sources, a Secret Service agent on duty spotted a rifle barrel with a scope protruding from a fence as Trump moved between the fifth and sixth holes. The agent engaged the suspect, prompting him to flee the scene. Routh, later apprehended in Martin County, was reportedly between 300 and 500 yards away from Trump at the time of the incident.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw held a press conference detailing the timeline of events. A witness, who saw Routh fleeing into a black Nissan, provided critical information by photographing the vehicle’s license plate.
This led to the suspect’s swift capture by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. A long gun, identified as an AK47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera were recovered at the scene. The contents of the backpacks included a ceramic tile, though its significance remains unclear.
Trump was unharmed and addressed the incident in an email to his supporters shortly after the event.
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” he wrote. Trump also affirmed his resolve, declaring, “Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were quickly briefed on the situation and expressed their relief at Trump’s safety. Harris later posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Violence has no place in America.”
I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024
Attorney General Merrick Garland has also been informed of the incident, according to the Department of Justice.
This marks the second assassination attempt targeting Trump in recent months.
On 13 July 2024, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was grazed by a bullet when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at him from a nearby rooftop using an AR-15-style rifle. The attack left one audience member dead, and Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Following that incident, the US Secret Service came under scrutiny, and its then-director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned two weeks later.
In Sunday’s incident, the quick actions of the Secret Service are again being praised. Sheriff Bradshaw explained that the agency had an agent stationed ahead of Trump’s position, who spotted the rifle barrel and acted swiftly to prevent a potential tragedy.
“The Secret Service agent on the course did a fantastic job,” Bradshaw said.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, confirmed that the former president is “in good spirits” despite the close call. “I spoke to him before the news was public, and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” Vance posted on X.
I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.
Still much we don't know, but I'll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 15, 2024
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also remarked, “He’s in good spirits and more resolved than ever to save our country.”
International
Explosions on Hezbollah pagers in Lebanon leave nine dead and thousands injured
A series of explosions targeting Hezbollah members’ pagers in Lebanon killed at least nine people and wounded 2,750 others. Hezbollah blamed Israel for the sophisticated attack, which escalated ongoing tensions between the two, amid ongoing cross-border conflict.
Explosions targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon on Tuesday (17 Sept), resulted in at least nine deaths, including an 8-year-old girl, and approximately 2,750 injuries, with 200 being critical.
Most injuries were to the face, hands, or abdomen.
It is reported that eight of the deceased were Hezbollah members.
The group confirmed that at least two of its members were killed, one of whom was the son of a Hezbollah parliament member.
Hezbollah later announced that six additional members had died, though specific details were not provided.
The explosions occurred across multiple regions in Lebanon and affected several Hezbollah members.
Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured but sustained only minor injuries and remains under observation in a Beirut hospital.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have accused Israel of orchestrating a sophisticated remote attack.
According to an American official, Israel informed the United States that the operation involved detonating small amounts of explosives concealed within the pagers.
The Israeli military has declined to comment on the attack.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been high, particularly following the 7 October attack by Hamas that intensified the Gaza conflict.
The pagers involved were reportedly procured by Hezbollah following a February directive from its leader to stop using cellphones, which are more easily tracked by Israeli intelligence.
The pagers were acquired from Taiwanese company Gold Apollo but were tampered with before arriving in Lebanon.
Gold Apollo confirmed that its AR-924 pagers were used but stated they were produced and sold by a company called BAC.
The explosive material, embedded next to the battery in each pager, was triggered remotely by a message that appeared to come from Hezbollah’s leadership.
The pagers were programmed to beep for several seconds before detonating.
Hezbollah has accused Israel of carrying out this attack and promised retaliation.
Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the explosions as an “Israeli aggression.”
Hezbollah warned that Israel would face “just punishment” for the attack.
“We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians,” Hezbollah said.
Independent cybersecurity experts have indicated that the explosions were caused by small explosive charges implanted in the pagers.
Mikko Hypponen of WithSecure noted that the size and strength of the explosions suggested modifications to the devices.
“These pagers were likely modified in some way to cause these types of explosions — the size and strength of the explosion indicates it was not just the battery.”
Israeli cybersecurity analyst Keren Elazari described the attack as targeting Hezbollah’s vulnerabilities.
The pager bombings are likely to heighten Hezbollah’s concerns about security and communications as the conflict with Israel continues.
“This attack hit them in their Achilles’ heel because they took out a central means of communication,” Ms Elazari said.
“We have seen these types of devices, pagers, targeted before but not in an attack this sophisticated.”
The ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in numerous casualties and displacement on both sides.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, condemned the attack and expressed concern about the escalating violence in an already volatile situation.
International
Attack on Hezbollah pagers injures hundreds across Lebanon, including Iran’s ambassador
Hundreds were injured in explosions across Lebanon on 17 September, targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among the wounded.
Hundreds of people were injured on 17 September 2024, in an attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon.
The explosions affected multiple regions, with dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly wounded.
Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those injured, according to Iranian state media, suffering a superficial injury. He remains under observation in a Beirut hospital, per IRNA.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health has issued urgent warnings to citizens to discard pager devices and instructed hospitals to be on “high alert.”
The ministry also called for blood donations due to the large number of casualties being transferred to hospitals. The explosions primarily impacted Hezbollah strongholds, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Beqaa valley towns of Ali Al-Nahri and Riyaq.
The blasts are believed to be the result of “hacked” pager devices, according to Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces and the state media outlet NNA.
In addition to Ambassador Amani, two Iranian embassy employees were injured, as reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
Footage from CCTV and social media showed the severity of the blasts. In one clip, a man in a supermarket was caught in an explosion, dropping to the ground in pain. Other videos from Lebanese hospitals depicted the overwhelming number of injured, including children with facial and hand injuries.
The Israeli military, which has engaged in conflict with Hezbollah amid the ongoing Gaza war since October 2023, declined to comment on the incident.
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