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Harry Sekulich
A federal officer has shot a man in the leg in the US city of Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel as he tried to make an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says.
Tensions have been running high in the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot dead a woman last week, sparking protests there which spread to other US cities.
In a statement on X, the DHS said the latest shooting happened after a car chase involving a Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally. It ended in a crash and the driver was joined by two more people who all attacked the officer, it said.
Fresh clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement near the scene and city officials appealed for calm.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the situation in the city, where a new deployment of federal agents has arrived against the wishes of local officials, was “unsustainable”.
Tensions over immigration enforcement have been running high in the city since the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent on 7 January.
The man shot in the latest shooting was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and an ICE officer was also taken to hospital to be treated for injuries, the DHS said.
The latest shooting prompted renewed clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, the city’s police chief Brian O’Hara said, adding his officers were hit by fireworks, ice and snowballs.
Minneapolis city officials said on X: “We understand there is anger. We ask the public to remain calm.”
“The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately,” they added.
The DHS statement said that after the pursuit the man got out of his car and an altercation took place between him and the federal agent.
It added: “While the subject and law enforcement were in a struggle on the ground, two subjects came out of a nearby apartment and also attacked the law enforcement officer with a snow shovel and broom handle.
“As the officer was being ambushed and attacked by the two individuals, the original subject got loose and began striking the officer with a shovel or broom stick.”
The DHS statement went on to say, “fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired defensive shots,” and added that “both attackers are in custody” while the subject and agent were in hospital.
The BBC could not immediately independently verify details in the statements. O’Hara said the FBI is investigating the incident.
Around 3,000 federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota over recent weeks.
Officials have offered differing accounts of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, with the Trump administration claiming the ICE agent was acting in self defence, while local officials say the woman posed no danger.
Videos of the incident show ICE agents approaching a car, which is in the middle of the street. As it attempts to drive off, one of them at the front of the vehicle points his gun at the driver and fired three shots. The FBI is investigating the incident.
Minneapolis city leaders have said Good was at the scene as a legal observer of ICE activities – a volunteer who monitors police and security forces at protests and operations.
Good’s mother told the Minnesota Star Tribune that her daughter was “not part of anything” that involved challenging ICE agents.
But White House officials, including President Donald Trump, have said Good was not simply observing, but also interfering in the officers’ work.
A fundraiser set up for Good’s widow and family has raised more than $1.4m.
In a statement on X responding to reports of ICE shooting the man in the leg, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting.”
Shortly before news of the latest shooting emerged, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urging Trump to end the “occupation” of ICE officers in the state in a video on social media.
“Angry is not a strong enough word,” Walz said during his address.
