Donald Trump rushed off stage during Reno, Nev., rally
Someone in the crowd shouted 'gun,' but no weapon was found
U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was hustled off the stage by security agents at a campaign event in Reno on Saturday after a perceived threat in the crowd.
Two security agents grabbed Trump by the shoulders and rushed him back stage. The threat was initially unclear, but a man near the front of the crowd was pounced on by other security agents.
The Secret Service confirmed that someone had shouted "gun" in the crowd.
"Immediately in front of the stage, an unidentified individual shouted 'gun.' Secret Service agents and Reno Police Officers immediately apprehended the subject. Upon a thorough search of the subject and the surrounding area, no weapon was found," the Secret Service said in a statement.
"A thorough investigation is ongoing at this time by the U.S. Secret Service and the Reno Police Department," it said.
TV video showed the man being escorted away by a group of police officers, with his hands behind his back.
Trump returned to the stage a few minutes later to continue his rally speech, three days before Tuesday's election.
"Nobody said it was going to be easy for us. But we will never be stopped. Never ever be stopped," Trump said.
Thank you Reno, Nevada. <br>NOTHING will stop us in our quest to MAKE AMERICA SAFE AND GREAT AGAIN! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericaFirst?src=hash">#AmericaFirst</a><a href="https://t.co/N8EFAQDhnt">https://t.co/N8EFAQDhnt</a> <a href="https://t.co/OoM3hsDWS1">pic.twitter.com/OoM3hsDWS1</a>
—@realDonaldTrumpThe Secret Service statement noted that magnetometers are used at presidential campaign sites.
"All general public attending these events must go through a magnetometer screening prior to entering a protected area," the agency said.
Donald Trump's son and a top campaign aide were falsely spreading the rumour that the incident in Nevada was an "assassination attempt" against the candidate.
Trump's son, Don Jr., and Dan Scavino, who runs Trump's social media operation, re-tweeted a message that read, "Hillary ran away from rain today. Trump is back on stage minutes after assassination attempt."
At Trump's next rally in Denver, a pastor, introduced as Father Andre Y-Sebastian Mahanna, also falsely called it "an attempt of murder against Mr. Trump." Mahanna blamed the incident on the media for inciting hate against the Republican nominee.
With files from The Associated Press