World leaders condemn attack on Trump

WASHINGTON,  US

Leaders around the world have condemned the shooting of former US President Donald Trump on Saturday and expressed concern for him.

The Republican presidential candidate was at a rally in Pennsylvania when he was shot in the right ear.

The FBI has named 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the man suspected of carrying out the attack. He has been killed.

US President Joe Biden - Trump's political opponent - called the assassination attempt "sick", saying "there's no place for this kind of violence in America".

"I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information," he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts were with Donald Trump, who was a "victim" of an attack.

"It is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people.”

He also wished for the former president's "speedy recovery", a sentiment shared by a number of leaders, including those from Spain, Ireland, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Honduras and Israel.

In a social media post, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote: “My thoughts and prayers are with President @realDonaldTrump in these dark hours.”

The right-wing premier has recently been on a whirlwind two-week tour that concluded with a visit to Trump, whom he strongly backs to win again in November.

Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said his thoughts were with Trump and all those at the event, adding: "Political violence is never acceptable."

As well as the suspected gunman, one spectator has also died and two others are critically injured.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated the condemnation expressed by her various counterparts, adding: "Peace and democracy must always be the option.”

The UK's newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent the former president his best wishes and said his thoughts were with all the victims of the attack.

Similarly, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his thoughts were with all those affected, and called the attack "despicable".

"Such acts of violence threaten democracy,” he added.

Nations across the Asian continent also sent messages, including Japan, the Philippines, Pakistan and Taiwan.

Indian Prime Minister Nahendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned" by the attack on his friend and condemned it.

Meanwhile, China's President Xi Jinping "expressed his condolences" in a statement from an official spokesperson, which added China was "concerned" about the shooting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: “Russia always denounced and categorically denounces any displays of force in a political battle.

"We express condolences to the family of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to the injured."

Mr Peskov added that the US had a repeated history of similar violence during "political battles".

To date, the US has lost four presidents to assassinations, while others have been targets of attempted attacks.