Investigators seize AR-15 rifle following Trump assassination attempt

Investigators have seized an AR-15 rifle following the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, according to media reports.

The weapon is believed to have been used in the shooting, the New York Times and Washington Post reported. Trump escaped with a light wound to his ear, but one man was killed and two others suffered serious injuries in the incident in the small town of Butler, north of Pittsburgh.

The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle mainly produced by arms manufacturer Colt. The gun is almost identical in appearance to the M16 assault rifle used by the US military.

Unlike the military version, the AR-15 not capable of continuous fire, but experienced shooters can still fire a large number of shots in a very short time.

The firepower of the rifle varies according to the manufacturer. The weapon can be bought online in the United States for around $1,000.

The AR-15 has proved controversial in recent decades after being used in several mass shootings in the US. The weapon was banned for several years, but has been freely available since 2004.

Gun rights activists argue that millions of Americans use the weapon as a hunting rifle, for self-defence or for entertainment at shooting ranges.

Nevertheless, its use in the assassination attempt against former president Trump, who is running to dethrone his successor President Joe Biden in November's election, is sure to spark a renewed debate on gun control in the US.