How a gun at Trump rally would be found
In the wake of a shocking incident at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump was shot, people are wondering about the security measures in place at such events.
One critical component of event security that has gained attention is the magnetometer, used to look for guns and weapons at the rally.
What is a magnetometer?
A magnetometer is a device used to detect magnetic fields. It plays a crucial role in security settings by identifying metallic objects carried by people entering secure areas, such as public events, airports, and government buildings.
At political rallies and public gatherings, magnetometers are used as part of the massive security protocols, to screen attendees before entry.
How does a magnetometer work?
Magnetometers operate by sensing disruptions in magnetic fields caused by metallic objects. When a person passes through a magnetometer, it alerts security personnel to the presence of such objects. This allows for immediate action to prevent potential harm and maintain a secure environment.
Most people would recognize magnetometers from [US Transportation Security Administration] TSA checkpoints, but they can also be wands, hand-held detectors and larger archway style scanners.
Pete Comment/Background
Where this is going is that CNN reported on July 15 that the attempted assassin ("shooter") "was spotted by local [police] who thought he might’ve been acting suspiciously near the event magnetometers on [on July 13, 2024 - the day of the shooting], according to a senior [policeman]. They put it out over their radio to keep an eye on him – and that information was passed to Secret Service as well, according to the source."
It appears the shooter seeing the magnetometers stopped before he got into the security perimeter covered by those magnetometers because the unusually high amount of metal in his rifle would have been detected.
The shooter turned back and climbed (or gained entry) to the roof of a nearby building. The Butler township policemen that saw him could not safely get on that roof. Then the shooter fired the shots.
It appears there just wasn't time using radio messages for the police and the Secret Service to react effectively before the bullet hit Trump's ear.
In 20/20 hindsight perhaps the police who saw the armed shooter should have fired warning shots (to alert everyone) before the shooter could fire his shots. Or could the Secret Service sniper(s), who eventually killed the shooter, have acted more quickly?
6 comments:
I'm not a security person but I have to wonder for outdoor events like this - why didn't one law enforcement agency think to use a drone for surveillance? It would have picked up the assassin immediately. Commercially available drones with high res cameras can be bought for $1000 to $2000.
For all the security presence, and the courage of the Secret service agents who responded very quickly, security does not appear to have been well organised at the rally.
Hi Scott at 7/16/2024 12:45 PM
The US Secret Service might use drones for "overwatch" - but maybe not all the time due to manpower limitations and ineffectiveness in many situations (eg. wholly indoor activities?). But I can't (yet) find official Secret Service confirmation. After "Trump's ear" one would hope the US Secret Service and foreign equivalents are now using overwatch drones all of the time.
See https://www.reddit.com/r/drones/comments/1e2y64e/does_the_us_secret_service_use_drones_to_monitor/ specifically
"Intelligent_Site8568
•
2d ago
The secret service uses drones for inspections, and overwatch."
Regards Pete
It sure is suspicious that the Secret Service failed to neutralize the threat.
Future assassination attempts may employ drones, as in the Venezuela attack.
I hope the Secret Service is prepared for this (2019 article).
"The attack was prepared on a rented farm in rural Colombia.
Weeks before Maduro’s speech, the Venezuelan defectors had
ordered commercially available drones online from the United
States, and customized them to detonate a homemade bomb
through the remote control app."
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/14/americas/venezuela-drone-maduro-intl/index.html
Hi Anonymous at 7/16/2024 10:04 PM
There was a Delay in the two US Secret Service snipers neutralizing the threat because they were tasked to cover a zone about 300 to 800 meters away.
The shooter was in a dead zone 120 meters from Trump not covered by Trump's close-in and distant perimeters of Secret Service protection.
Also there is the matter of Police protection 120 meters from Trump not being ineffective.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Donald_Trump#Shooting
Experienced Snipers Break Down The Trump Assassination Attempt
"The War Zone asked three experts – two experienced snipers and
one former USSS Special Agent in Charge – to give their
perspectives, breaking down how these operations work and what
they observed about how CS teams handled what would become the
first time a USSS sniper ever actually killed anyone."
Source:
https://www.twz.com/news-features/experienced-snipers-break-down-the-trump-assassination-attempt
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