THESE were the dramatic scenes as secret service agents bundled Donald Trump from a White House rally stage amid fears a gun-toting assassin was about to open fire.

Cries of fear filled the auditorium which was packed with the Republican maverick’s supporters. 

Mr Trump stopped speaking mid-sentence and after straining to see what the commotion was about, snapped into the well-planned emergency procedure. 

Within minutes, the 70-year-old nominee was back on stage as it emerged that the fracas was caused by an unarmed protestor called Austyn Crites. 

But the scare at Saturday night’s rally in Reno, Nevada, highlights the tension surrounding the Presidential race just days before the poll. 

Panic broke out because one of the crowd shouted “gun”, despite the fact that Mr Crites, an anti-Trump Republican, was only carrying a placard. 

Returning to the podium, Mr Trump looked unruffled, and told the crowd: “Nobody said it was going to be easy for us.”  Later, he thanked the Secret Service and Reno and Nevada law enforcement officials for “their fast and professional response.” 

Austyn Crites was the unarmed protesterNC

It emerged that the fracas was caused by an unarmed protestor called Austyn Crites

Mr Crites was mobbed by security and taken away, but released after questioning.

The 33-year-old, who said he will vote Clinton despite being a Republican, said: “I came here with this sign expecting boos – but it was just a sign. 

“He claimed members of the crowd beat and tried to choke him before tension escalated with the mistaken firearms warning. 

“I have nothing against Trump supporters,” he said. 

Donald Trump rushed off stageREUTERS

The secret service agents bundled Trump from the White House rally stage

“I have serious concern against Trump.”
A Secret Service statement said: “Agents and Reno Police Officers immediately apprehended the subject.

"Upon a thorough search of the subject and the surrounding area, no weapon was found.”

In another twist, intelligence chiefs warned at the weekend that Al Qaeda plan to attack a number of cities before the poll. 

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security said they have intercepted “credible” evidence that the Islamist fanatics have targeted New York, Texas and Virginia. 

Donald Trump at the White House rallyREUTERS

The scare at Saturday night’s rally highlights the tension surrounding the Presidential race

The final polls before the vote show Mrs Clinton has failed to recapture the dominance she enjoyed before the latest FBI probe into her emails.
Revelations that she may have used her home computer for government business demolished a 12-point lead and some polls gave Mr Trump the edge.

source:express.co.uk