The police in the US state of Minnesota are looking for a man who, disguised as a police officer, allegedly shot two politicians from that state. One of those politicians died from her injuries on Saturday afternoon.
The two shootings took place on the night of Friday to Saturday (local time) in the Brooklyn Park neighborhood in northern Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota. The suspect posed as an officer, after which he opened fire on the politicians and their spouses.
It concerns parliamentarians John Hoffman and Melissa Hortman, two politicians from the Democratic party. Hoffman works as a senator in Minnesota and Hortman as a representative in that state.
Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota announced on Saturday that one of the shootings had been fatal. American media, including NBC News, report that Hortman died from her injuries, as did her husband. Hoffman and his wife were injured and now appear to be out of danger.
Walz speaks of a “politically motivated” and “targeted political violence”.
List of names of more politicians found
The police are conducting a manhunt for the suspects, who escaped after a shootout with the police. Agents did find a vehicle in which a list of names of more politicians was found.
According to local media, the police have sent people to the homes of other parliamentarians to secure them.
According to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, the FBI is also present to support the local police. President Donald Trump has been informed and condemns the “terrible violence”.
In Minneapolis on Saturday, as in many other American cities, a so-called ‘No Kings Day’ protest was planned. That protest is directed against President Trump. The organization has canceled the protest after Governor Waltz called for not participating in political events until the shooter has been apprehended.