Man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump

A man has been charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump after staking out the presidential hopeful on his Florida golf course.

Ryan Routh was arrested after allegedly poking his rifle through bushes surrounding the West Palm Beach golf course on 15 September.

A Secret Service agent opened fire and the suspect fled but was detained on a local highway less than an hour later.

Routh, 58, was initially charged with two gun offences but prosecutors have upgraded the charges.

They said Routh left a note, written months before his arrest, signalling his intention to kill Mr Trump.

It was dropped off at the home of an unidentified person who contacted authorities following his arrest, said the US Justice Department.

Prosecutors said it read: "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster."

A handwritten list of dates and locations where Mr Trump was expected to be was also allegedly found on him.

Prosecutors said Routh had spent a month in southern Florida and that mobile phone data showed him near the golf course and Mr Trump's home.

Six phones, including one showing a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach to Mexico, were also said to have been found in his car.

Routh has not yet entered a plea to the charges.

The golf course incident came two months after Mr Trump survived an attempt on his life while on stage in Pennsylvania.

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