— When politics enters into harsh terms, people wake up who have the need to appear outside, whose politics of hate and exchange of blows inspires them to enter this discourse in an active way, to be noticed – Gen. Roman Polko, former commander of GROM and former deputy head of the National Security Bureau, told PAP.
Gen. Roman Polko on the shooting at a meeting with Donald Trump
According to the military officer, looking at the shooting in Washington and at the attacker, it is clear that his actions were not very professional. — The Secret Service's actions were very good. The attacker broke through the first barrier in front of the ballroom, but was overpowered a few meters further, said the general.
— He fired a couple of shots that could not be stopped, but they did not pose a threat to people in President Trump's administration who were provided protection by the Secret Service. In my opinion, it was a professional action, he emphasized. — It is worth paying attention to what happened in the ballroom, to the immediate takeover of control by security, he added.
Gen. Polko noted that the security guards do not play diplomacy, they take politicians outside to ensure their safety – they cover them with their own bodies or create a cordon to protect them from shots.
— The president appears in many secured places through various types of visits, but that doesn't mean that someone can't break through the outer rings. Not always to kill, sometimes to shake hands or get an autograph, said General Polko.
Shooting at a gala attended by Donald Trump. The president was evacuated
US President Donald Trump was evacuated by the Secret Service from a dinner with White House correspondents on Saturday evening local time, during which shots were fired. The suspect opened fire in the hotel lobby and was captured by the services.
First lady Melania Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance and other cabinet members were also evacuated. The event was broadcast live on television.
