‘Trump Train’: Police respond to reports of shooting during mobile rally in Virginia

Caravans of Trump supporters have appeared in cities across the United States

Police have responded to multiple incidents related to a “Trump Train” mobile vehicle rally in Richmond, Virginia, on Sunday afternoon.

The rally for Donald Trump, which started in Henrico County before attendees drove to Lee Circle in Richmond, turned violent with reports of shootings and confrontations among individuals.

Violence ensued when the rally passed by the Robert E Lee monument after some of the vehicles left the roadway and drove over the grass surrounding the statue.

Police were called after one woman reported being pepper sprayed by someone in a vehicle and gunfire hit a car, according to a press release.

The area was cleared once police arrived on the scene and responded to the assault.

Officers also responded to a report of an unattended vehicle being struck by gunfire, according to the press release. No other injuries were reported.

A police presence remained in the area into Sunday evening to prevent any potential confrontations, officers said. The monument of the Confederate general has been a source of conflict in recent months with people pushing for the monument to be torn down.

Richmond City Council candidate Mike Dickinson, who organised the "Trump Train," told the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record that members of the rally did not fire shots and he doubted the noise was gunfire. Instead, Mr Dickinson said someone reported the noise as a car backfiring.

“As you could see today, we have a culture of lawlessness and mob attack mentality,” Mr Dickinson said. “It’s ridiculous that in the city of Richmond, you can’t drive down our roads without having people throw bottles at you and attack your vehicle and be violent towards you.”

The incident came just two days before the 3 November election and after other “Trump Train” caravans across the US caused problems in other towns.

The FBI was investigating an incident in Texas when a caravan of Trump supporters in vehicles brandishing Trump campaign flags surrounded a BIden campaign bus en route from San Antonio to Austin.

The Biden campaign said vehicles surrounded the bus in a way to slow it down in the middle of the highway or potentially run it off the road. Staff members with the campaign notified 911 and law enforcement assisted the bus in reaching its destination in Austin, Texas.

Following the report, the FBI said it was “aware of the incident and investigating the incident, which sparked a negative response from Mr Trump.

“In my opinion, these patriots did nothing wrong,” Mr Trump wrote. “Instead, the FBI & Justice should be investigating the terrorists, anarchists, and agitators of ANTIFA, who run around burning down our Democrat run cities and hurting our people!”

Other “Trump Train” caravans have appeared across the United States from Colorado to Kentucky to New Jersey.