Rarely used security measure in place at Charlie Kirk funeral amid concerns

Eagle-eyed viewers watching Charlie Kirk's memorial livestream have spotted a rarely-seen piece of security equipment.

The 31-year-old right-wing activist, who was fatally shot while speaking at a university event in Utah on September 10, is being honoured today with a funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Tens of thousands of Americans have turned up to pay tribute to the ally of Donald Trump, while the US president himself is set to deliver remarks.

And among the strict safety measures, social media users have noticed that the podium the Republican leader will be speaking from is enclosed in bulletproof glass, something which is reportedly rarely seen at an indoor event.

Reacting to the use of the bulletproof glass online, one Twitter user wrote: "It's incredible that we've allowed the world to come to this."

While a second and third added: "Sad state of affairs in the USA", and "Glad to see these types of security measures in place".

"Higher precaution than normal," pointed out a fourth, while a fifth agreed: "Pretty sure it’s because Trump and Vance are there."

Trump also appears to be standing behind a similar pane of bulletproof glass, also known as ballistic glass, as he watches the rest of the ceremony unfold, before delivering his own speech.

However, this isn't the first time the world leader has taken such a drastic measure - he's actually been using bulletproof glass at campaign rallies since his assassination attempt last year.

For those who need a reminder, Trump was injured while speaking on stage at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, on 13 July 2024, when Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at him from the roof of a building approximately 100 yards away.

The 20-year-old fired eight shots, killing one audience member and critically injuring two more.

Since then, Trump has opted for ballistic glass for most of his big public appearances to ensure nothing like that can happen again.

On top of this measure, for a venue that can accommodate around 73,000 people, strict TSA-style security measures have been implemented for the large crowds attending. Kirk's funeral.

This meant that long queues formed as it took longer than usual for everyone to go through the required checks.

There was a strict no bag policy in effect and guests arriving with bags, even clear bags, 'were NOT be permitted entry'. They were instead required to return the bag to their vehicle and rejoin the line from the end.

As well as a long list of prohibited items, including everything from strollers to balloons, organisers used magnetometers to screen all attendees and their belongings.

Physical pat-downs were also done for those with medical exemptions, and those who don't consent to either the medical detector screening or a physical pat-down were warned they would be denied entry.