The war in Iran may have been a possible motive for the man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner 10 days ago, according to a Secret Service report sent to state and local police authorities in the United States.
The report, a preliminary assessment by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, dated April 27, assesses that the suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, had “numerous social and political grievances.” Citing, among other things, Allen’s social media posts criticizing American actions in the Middle East, the report concludes that the war in Iran “may have contributed to his decision to carry out the attack.”
U.S. officials have so far not provided details on the 31-year-old's alleged motives, citing as strong evidence an email Allen sent to relatives the night of the attack. The message, which officials described as a "manifesto," expressed his anger at the government and referred to his desire to target the "traitor" who was giving a speech, without mentioning Trump by name.
The case file also says that Allen "did not agree" politically with Trump and "wanted to 'react' against government policies and decisions that he considered morally unacceptable."
The FBI is reviewing Allen's digital footprint and his social media activity, a senior law enforcement official told Reuters.
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