Pennsylvania, USA (AFP) — Former President Donald Trump was rushed off stage by United States Secret Service agents Saturday after a series of loud bangs that sounded gunshots were heard at the start of a campaign rally here.

Trump was seen with blood on his right ear as he was surrounded by security agents who rushed him off the stage as he pumped his fist to the crowd.

The “former president is safe,” the Secret Service said after Trump was bundled into an SUV and driven away.

“We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots; it sounded like between firecrackers and a small calibre handgun,” said John Yeykal from Franklin, Pennsylvania, who was attending his first Trump rally.

The disturbance took place shortly after Trump took the stage at his final campaign rally before the Republican party convention starts on Monday in Milwaukee.

Trump’s campaign said he was ‘fine’, after being checked at medical facility.

President Joe Biden received an initial briefing on the incident, the White House said.

Later, US media reports indicated that the suspected shooter, and a bystander, had been killed.