Trump Cancels Chicago Rally after Violent Clashes

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has canceled one of his signature rallies, saying he didn't want to see "people get hurt" after protesters packed into the Chicago arena where it was to take place.

    Clashes broke out Friday at an arena in Chicago prior to a rally by Trump, prompting him to cancel the event only minutes before it was scheduled to begin.

    Tens of thousands of people were at the venue, including thousands of protesters inside and outside the arena, according to news reports. Protesters inside the arena cheered at the announcement that Trump was pulling out. "We stopped Trump," they chanted, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

    The crowd of protesters outside the venue had grown throughout the afternoon, reportedly causing concern among police. The billionaire businessman's campaign said he decided to cancel the rally "for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena," after meeting law enforcement officials in Chicago. 

    The rally will be held on another date, the campaign statement said. It also thanked people for attending and urged them to "please go in peace". Police cleared the arena and the area outside without incident, news reports said. The Chicago Police Department reported no arrests on its Twitter site. 

    In an interview afterwards with broadcaster CNN, Trump said he had no intention of causing any violence. "I don't want to see anybody getting hurt," he said. He said there were "minor skirmishes," which reflected divisions in the country over the lack of wage increases, job instability and worry over the economy. 

    Friday's events occurred four days before key votes in five states: Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. If Trump's momentum continues through those votes on Tuesday, he will be in the best position of any of the four candidates in the race to capture the GOP nomination to run for president.

    Trump has won a majority of contests in the state-by-state primary process by which parties choose their presidential candidates, but continues to face sharp opposition from much of the party's political establishment. (QNA)of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir attended the meeting.

Source: QNA