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The Republican Presidential candidate was taken back by his security detail while other officers stepped forward to flatten a person in the crowd. The 70-year-old billionaire was in the middle of the rally when the incident took place, after a member of the crowd shouted “gun” causing the security services to rush in. Trump could be seen staring ahead, covering his eyes to get a good look at the man stood in front of him as he rushed to the front of the crowd. Fearing a threat, his security personnel pulled the potential future President down, then bundled him off the side of the stage.

SKY NEWS Trump was rushed off stage after staring out into the audience

A SWAT team of police then strode into the crowd to apprehend the source of the alleged threat. But the man, revealed to be a 33-year-old white male Austyn Crites, was later revealed to be a non violent Republican anti-trump protester. A police source has since confirmed they had received a report that a gun was in the crowd and a suspect has since been released. However no weapon was found following further investigations.

GETTY Security services rushed the protester away into a nearby toilet

A police spokesperson said: Immediately in front of the stage, an unidentified individual shouted ‘gun’. “Secret Service agents and Reno Police Officers immediately apprehended the subject. “Upon a thorough search of the subject and the surrounding area, no weapon was found.’ Crites, an anti-Trump protester, was holding up a sign at the rally that read “Republicans against Trump”. He said he was punched and kicked while his neck was held in a chokehold, while other crowd members grabbed at his testicles fearing he was an attacker.

SKY NEWS Trump could be seen staring out into the crowd

Mr Crites said: “I was in survival mode. I knew I could die at that moment.” The protester explained his politics in a Facebook post, stating: “I understand that this election has people torn, but we must chose HOPE over HATE.” Crowd member Michael Newton, 45, said: “I saw a man to my right and then it looked like a fight broke out. “There were four or five guys on top of him. Then the people on top of him shouted ‘he’s got a gun, he’s got a gun’. “That’s when I also jumped on top of him to help; we were all shouting to alert the Secret Service.”

SKY NEWS His security personnel pulled the potential future President down

Candidate Trump ultimately returned to the stage and continued with his remarks. A few tense minutes passed as the secret service performed a sweep of the area before Mr Trump walked back out to the rally. He walked back to the podium, staring across the crowd as people cheered his return. As he stepped back to the microphone he said: “No one was saying it would be easy for us.” He went on to pay credit to the security services, saying that they “don’t get enough credit”.

TWITTER Protester Austyn Crites was dragged away by police accompanied by the swat team