Anthony Albanese says he is “relieved” that former US president Donald Trump is safe after a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

The Australian prime minister said there was “no place for violence in the democratic process” as other politicians decried what is being investigated as an attempted assassination four months out from the US presidential election.

The shooting incident occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening US time. Local authorities later said the shooter at Trump’s rally was dead as was a member of the crowd.

A Trump campaign spokesperson said the former president and Republican nominee was “fine” but being checked at a medical facility.

Albanese issued a statement calling the shooting “concerning and confronting”.

“There is no place for violence in the democratic process. I am relieved to hear reports that former president Trump is now safe,” the Australian PM said.

The Australian treasurer, Jim Chalmers, was live on Sky News when the news broke. He called the scenes “extraordinary” and said he hoped Trump was OK.

“You can see the professionalism with which the Secret Service has responded … it’s heartening to see his arm was up and he was mobile,” Chalmers said.

The former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison, who enjoyed a warm relationship with Trump when the two were in office, tweeted that he was “saddened, shocked and appalled at the attempted assassination of President Trump”.

“Prayers for him and his family today, as well as all those who put their own lives at risk to protect those in public life. Prayers also for America and its people, a great democracy and our great friend, at this difficult time,” Morrison said.

Sussan Ley, the acting opposition leader, tweeted: “Australians and Americans share a commitment to freedom and democracy. The attempted assassination of former President Trump is a shocking breach of these values.”

“It is not who we are. Our thoughts are with him, his family and the American people during this difficult time,” she wrote on social media.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is in the US, having attended the Australian American Leadership Dialogue forum in Washington DC last week.

The shadow foreign affairs minister, Simon Birmingham, tweeted that “politically motivated violence never has a place in free democracies”.

“Thoughts go to all victims of the appalling shooting in the US. Whatever your politics, candidates & supporters have a right to safe assembly,” he said.

“Once again, many Australians will be grateful for our gun laws.”

Reactions were similar across the political spectrum as Australian federal MPs shared statements on social media.

Liberal MP Alex Hawke tweeted “political violence is never acceptable in our free & democratic countries”. Nationals MP Michael McCormack wrote “what America needs now is unity as a moment in history unfolds”.

McCormack, the former deputy prime minister, claimed: “Images being flashed around the world of a bloodied former President Donald Trump defiant as he is whisked away from a rally by Secret Service Agents changes the entire US Election campaign.”

Independent MP Kate Chaney wrote “There can be no place in democracy for violence. My thoughts are with the bystander who appears to have been killed. Let’s redouble our efforts to keep politics civil.”

Fellow independent Sophie Scamps tweeted: “Whatever you think of Trump – this is not democracy.”