The photo is truly remarkable. Captured by a New York Times photographer, it shows what looks like a bullet whizzing past the head of former President Donald Trump.
So, what do we know about the weapon used in the attack, the damage it can cause, and just how close Donald Trump came to a tragic end?
According to security services, an AR-15 was found at the scene. Often referred to as “America’s Rifle”, it has been linked to numerous mass shootings.
Typically firing a 5.56mm round, the Nato standard, the AR-15 has the capability to be lethal at that distance, as demonstrated by the unfortunate casualty in the crowd.
Justin Crump from security analysts Sibylline explains that for assault rifles to inflict maximum harm, “the energy in the round has to dissipate, which requires a hard stop.”
It’s not just the physical impact of the bullet, but the energy transfer that makes assault rifles so destructive.
Fortunately for Trump, the bullet only grazed his ear, preventing the transfer of devastating energy.
Nevertheless, Crump notes that there may still be repercussions. “The shockwave past the eardrum won’t have been pleasant and it could leave an interesting scar,” he remarks.
If the bullet had been just slightly off target, or if Trump’s head had been positioned differently, the outcome could have been catastrophic.
In essence, Trump narrowly escaped death by mere inches.