Search history of Trump assassin revealed: Where will he speak?

A senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) official stated on Wednesday that the attacker who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump had searched online for events involving both Trump and President Joe Biden, repeatedly looked up information on explosives, and viewed the campaign rally in Pennsylvania where he opened fire last month as an “opportunity target.”

As reported by VOA Turkish, investigators who have conducted approximately one thousand interviews do not yet have information regarding why 20-year-old attacker Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump during the July 13 campaign rally. However, investigators believe he engaged in “extensive attack planning,” including researching campaign events for both the current and former president, particularly in western Pennsylvania.

'VIEWED THE RALLY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TARGET'

Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, told reporters on Wednesday that the FBI's analysis of his online search history revealed that Crooks had made a “sustained, detailed effort to plan an attack on an event, meaning he looked at any number of events or targets.” Rojek stated that after it was announced that Trump would hold a rally in the town of Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Crooks became “hyper-focused on that specific event and viewed the rally as an opportunity target.”

Crooks's internet searches in the days leading up to the rally included questions such as “Where will Trump speak at the Butler Farm Show?” as well as topics like “Butler Farm Show podium” and “Butler Farm Show photos.”

'WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO PROVIDE A DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION REGARDING THE MOTIVE'

The new details reveal that, according to investigators, Crooks was an individual with a disturbing interest in explosives, major events, and prominent political figures. However, Crooks's internet searches regarding major political parties make it difficult to determine the reason for his assassination attempt. “We have a clear idea of his mindset, but we are not prepared to provide a definitive explanation regarding the motive for the assassination attempt at this time,” Rojek said.

The FBI confirmed that Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet during the attack. Crooks, who had positioned himself on the roof of a nearby building, had fired eight shots before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.

News Source: 12punto