US Secret Service Under Scrutiny After Trump Shooting Incident

The US Secret Service's acting director revealed shortcomings in communication with local police during a recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Local Pennsylvania police had identified a gunman but were unable to relay the information to the Secret Service in time, leading to increased scrutiny of both agencies' communication protocols.

The U.S. Secret Service's acting director disclosed on Friday that inadequate communication with local police hampered an attempt to prevent the July 13 shooting of Donald Trump. Police in Pennsylvania had identified a gunman but failed to alert Secret Service agents due to differing communication channels. This led to the assailant's attack on the Republican candidate before agents could respond.

Ronald Rowe, the Secret Service's Acting Director, told reporters that the delay in transmitting the warning was due to the use of separate communication systems by local authorities and Secret Service agents. The lapse led to critical delays and is now the subject of scrutiny as both agencies review their coordination protocols.

Local authorities and security experts are calling for unified communication channels to avoid similar incidents in the future. This case has highlighted the urgent need for enhanced law enforcement communication and response procedures to protect high-profile individuals effectively.

(With inputs from agencies.)