Ultimately, heightened security at large political events is not just about protecting high-profile individuals. It is about ensuring the safety of thousands of attendees.
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sent shockwaves across the nation. This incident marks the first shooting of a U.S. president or former president in more than a generation and underscores glaring security lapses.
However, recent fiber optic interferometer technology advancements and artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising solutions.
Examining Security Lapses at Trump’s Pennsylvania Rally
In the instance of the recent assassination attempt on Trump, one of the most obvious security oversights was the presence of an unsecured rooftop within 500 feet of the stage, providing the gunman with a clear line of sight. The building, encompassing high ground, windows, and a rooftop, was located outside the “hard perimeter,” where exhaustive security screenings were conducted.
Security personnel initially spotted the shooter acting suspiciously. Despite local law enforcement noting his behavior and even passing this information to the Secret Service, the shooter disappeared from their radar for a critical period of time. About 19 minutes before the shooting, law enforcement was actively trying to locate him but only managed to identify his position once he was already on the roof.
