Police on New York’s Long Island have refuted claims that explosives were found at Nassau Coliseum ahead of an event with former President Donald Trump. The Nassau County Police Department’s commissioner, Patrick Ryder, released a statement stating that earlier reports of explosives being detected are unfounded. He also mentioned that an individual is being questioned who may have been training a bomb detection dog near the site. The department had previously issued a statement denying reports of a bomb near the venue but did not provide further details about the incident or the report.
Earlier in the day, there were claims circulating on social media about explosives at Nassau Coliseum. It is unclear where these claims originated from, although one individual on social media alleged that sources within the police department informed him that “the perimeter was breached and a blue barrel was removed.”
Federal law enforcement officials have been on high alert following the second apparent assassination attempt on Trump in Florida. Trump is scheduled to speak at Nassau Coliseum later in the evening.
Video footage captured by local media outlets showed people wearing Trump-themed clothing waiting in line outside Nassau Coliseum earlier in the day.
This rally will be Trump’s second public appearance since the recent assassination attempt while he was playing golf in Florida. The suspect involved has since been arrested and faces charges related to possessing firearms as a felon and possessing firearms with obliterated serial numbers.
The U.S. Secret Service’s acting director stated that there was no clear line of sight to Trump during this incident and no shots were fired at him directly. The suspect fled after encountering Secret Service agents but was apprehended shortly after by sheriff’s deputies.
Two months prior to this incident, another attempted assassination took place at a rally where Trump narrowly avoided being struck by a bullet fired by the suspect before they were shot and killed by Secret Service countersnipers.
This story is still developing, and more details will be provided as they emerge.
