DHAKA: The Republican candidate for the US election 2016, Donald Trump was briefly rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents at a rally at Reno in Nevada in a false alarm.

A man holding a sign saying “Republicans Against Trump” was tackled by security agents, after shouts that he had a gun.

Trump returned to the stage minutes later.

The Republican candidate said he is going to target states seen as Democratic strongholds ahead of Tuesday’s election.

He is set to visit Pennsylvania, Michigan and also Minnesota, which has not voted any Republican candidate since 1972.

Both candidates have been making late changes to their travel schedules as falling poll numbers for Mrs. Clinton in some key Democratic-leaning states present what the Trump campaign sees as new opportunities.

Hillary Clinton remains ahead in most national polls.

On Saturday evening, Trump had stopped speaking at the Reno rally after seeing something in the auditorium.

He was grabbed by two agents, who rushed him off stage, while the protester was held down and searched.

When he resumed his speech, Mr. Trump said, “Nobody said it was going to be easy for us... I want to thank the Secret Service.”

The Secret Service later confirmed that someone in front of the stage had shouted ‘gun’, but that “upon a thorough search of the subject and the surrounding area, no weapon was found”.

BDST: 1848 HRS, NOV 05, 2016
AP/BD