Following what the FBI are describing as a failed assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, mixed responses have been pouring in from around the globe.
Several global leaders have issued responses to the incident, although no statement has yet been released by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet or Senate president Hun Sen.
Numerous western governments, including Australia, the UK, Germany, and India, shared their concerns about the attack, and noted that violence has no place in a democracy.
The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement that China is concerned about the attack and that President Xi Jinping had already extended his sympathies to Trump.
One Cambodian analyst has questioned some of the muted responses to the attack.
Kin Phea, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, was adamant that comments from several diplomats and commentators were subdued, when compared to their past criticisms of events in developing nations.
“If this shocking incident happened in a [developing] country rather than the US, foreign diplomats and so-called activists would be deafening in their strong condemnation. They would also make accusations of threats, intimidation, suppression of political opponents and dirty and disgusting political violence,” he said, in a July 15 social media post.
“Wishing Mr. Trump a speedy recovery. God bless you!” he added.
Former president Trump was addressing an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania when a gunman fired several shots at him.
The shooter was firing from an elevated rooftop position some 150-200 metres away and was shot and killed by Secret Service counter-snipers within seconds of opening fire.
One of the first of the eight bullets fired by the gunman appeared to graze Trump’s ear, causing the former president to swat at his ear as if an insect had bitten him. As he noticed the blood on his hand, more shots rang out. He ducked to the ground and was immediately swarmed by members of his Secret Service protective detail.
Through the still-activated podium microphone, the agents could be heard confirming that the shooter had been “neutralised”, before Trump rose to his feet, fist clenched above his head. He called out “fight, fight” before he was bundled away by his protective detail, with the arena echoing to chants of USA! USA!
One rally attendee, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore was killed by the sniper’s errant shots and two other attendees were reported as critically injured.
The FBI later identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was apparently using an AR-15-style rifle that had been legally purchased by his father. Authorities have said they believed he acted alone, although no possible motivation for the attempt was offered.
Questions will surely be asked about how the sniper was able to get into a shooting position so near to the former president, although it was confirmed by US authorities that he was outside the immediate protected “ring” around Trump, and had not had to pass through any metal detectors.