The suspect in the apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump wrote a note saying he intended to kill the former US president, prosecutors say.

The US Justice Department said the note, addressed “Dear World”, was written by Ryan Routh months before he was arrested at West Palm Beach golf course in Florida, where Mr Trump was playing.

The note was placed in a box that was dropped off at the home of an unidentified person who contacted authorities following Routh’s arrest, the department added.

The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe and other items, it was claimed.

Image:
Ryan Routh. Pic: Ryan Routh/Facebook

According to prosecutors, the note read: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”

Prosecutors say the suspect’s mobile phone pinged towers near Mr Trump’s golf course and his Florida home repeatedly from 18 August to 15 September, according to a court filing on Monday.

They also found a handwritten list of dates and locations where the Republican presidential nominee was expected to be, the filing said.

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Authorities who searched Routh’s car found six mobile phones, including one showing a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

A notebook found in the 58-year-old’s vehicle was said to be filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.

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The allegations in the filing came ahead of a hearing on Monday at which prosecutors are expected to argue Routh should remain locked up as the case moves forward.

He was detained after gunshots were heard close to where Mr Trump was playing golf at his course in West Palm Beach on 15 September.

It came after the Republican presidential nominee was injured in an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.