FBI investigating motive behind Trump attack

The FBI is investigating an assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

One person died and former president Trump and other spectators were injured.

The attacker was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

The FBI is treating the incident as an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism.

In a press release, the FBI said the investigation indicates that the shooter acted alone and there are no current public safety concerns. The shooter was not previously known to the FBI.

As yet, no motive has been identified for the attack.

The attacker has been named as 20-year-old kitchen worker Thomas Matthew Crooks. State voter records show that he was a register Republican.

Searches have been carried out on the attacker's home and vehicle. Suspicious devices are being evaluated at the FBI Laboratory.

It is believed he used a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, which was purchased legally.

FBI director Christopher A. Wray said: "What we witnessed yesterday was nothing short of an attack on democracy and our democratic process.

"An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate can only be described as absolutely despicable and will not be tolerated in this country.  

"I want to start by offering my deepest condolences to all the victims of yesterday’s shooting and their families.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the individual who was killed, the two others who were critically wounded, and, of course, former President Trump and his family.

"I want to make sure they know—and the American people know—that the men and women of the FBI are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened."