Political violence an increasingly common occurrence in the USpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 14 June

17:13 BST 14 June

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Image source, Reuters

The tragedy of another high-profile episode of gun violence in America is compounded by the political nature of this attack.

Two Democratic legislators were targeted, along with their families, in their homes. Partisan politics in Minnesota, a state that prides itself on its friendly, easy-going attitude, has been more heated recently.

Control of the legislature has repeatedly shifted between the two parties since last November’s general election, as the state held contentious special elections to fill vacated seats.

Political violence is nothing new in America, but it has become an increasingly common occurrence.

Prominent incidents include the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house, the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and the hammer-wielding assailant who broke into former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home.

Security around the president and high-profile national politicians is tight, but there are thousands of state and local elected officials with minimal protection.

Today’s attack – said to have been conducted by an assailant, or assailants, posing as law enforcement officers - is a particularly chilling reminder of this.

Image source, Paul Battaglia/Minnesota House of Representatives

• Minnesota state politician Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were shot and killed in their home early on Saturday morning, Governor Tim Walz says
• State Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were targeted in their home in a separate shooting. They were shot multiple times and are out of surgery, Walz adds

• Walz says the attacks "appear to be a politically motivated assassination" and a manhunt is under way for a suspect
• The suspect in the Hortman shooting was impersonating a police officer - using a police "badge and uniform" and driving a car that looks like a "police vehicle", police say
• Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans said officers received a call at 02:00 local time regarding the incident involving Hoffman and his wife. Evans said another call was placed to police at 03:35, when officers were proactively checking on Hortman
• Police then exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman's home, but he managed to escape, Evans said

• Authorities warn people in the Brooklyn Park area not to answer their door for a police officer unless there are two officers together

Police chief Mark Bruley says several people have been detained and questioned but no-one is in custody currently.

He adds there are "people of interest that we are looking for".

Image source, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Police chief Bruley told the news conference that the suspect had a car which looked "exactly like" an SUV patrol car, with blue lights, and was wearing a vest, taser and badge similar to his.

"No doubt if they were in this room you would assume they were a police officer," he says.

The police chief says there is an "extensive manhunt" involving "hundreds and hundreds of officers and Swat teams".

"We have thousands of people sheltered in place in the city of Brooklyn Park right now," he says.

Police are confident the suspect escaped out of the back of the Hortman's property, he adds.

Bruley says they have the suspect's car and the man is now on foot.

Police chief Mark Bruley told a news conference a short while ago that after responding the shooting at John Hoffman's home, a police sergeant proactively checked on Melissa Hortman.

When they arrived they discovered what appeared to be a police vehicle with its emergency lights on and an officer coming out of the house.

When confronted the individual immediately fired on the officers who exchanged gunfire and they suspect retreated into the home.

Bruley says this person was clearly impersonating an officer and not a member of police themselves.

US President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the "terrible shooting" in Minnesota and it appears to be a "targeted attack against state lawmakers".

In a statement shared by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X, Trump says:

"I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers.

"Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law.

"Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!"

The US Attorney General Pamela Bondi says the shooting "appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers".

"I am closely monitoring developments in Minnesota after what appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers," she says on X.

"The FBI is on the ground investigating this case alongside state and local partners. This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Bob Jacobson, the commissioner of public safety for Minnesota, says it is a "dark day" but "we will not allow fear or violence to define who we are or how we move forward".

He says public servants have been "targeted in a violent and cowardly way".

Jacobson adds that the suspect exploited the trust that "our uniforms are meant to represent" which is "deeply disturbing" to those who wear the badge.

He adds there is increased security in place for elected officials and others who may be at risk.

Image source, Reuters

Superintendent Drew Evans says the police and FBI are "actively engaged in a manhunt" for the individual they believe to be responsible for the shooting.

He says the investigation is active, and they will be sharing the identity in due time. He says they are not in a position to reveal the identity now as they are "actively searching" for that individual.

Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans says officers received a call at 02:00 local time this morning regarding the incident involving State senator John Hoffman and his wife.

Evans says another call was placed to police at 03:35, when officers were proactively checking on Democratic politician Melissa Hortman.

Police believe the gunman was impersonating a police officer and escaped after exchanging fire with officers who responded to the attacks.

Walz says "peaceful discourse" is the foundation of US democracy and differences are not settled with "violence or at gunpoint".

He says Minnesota has proven it is "possible" even in "politically charged times" to find compromise.

He adds collaboration with state and federal agencies for a "full investigation" and he assures those responsible "will be held accountable".

Walz continues and says State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were each "shot multiple times".

He says they are out of surgery and he is "cautiously optimistic" that they will survive "this assassination attempt".

This was an "act of targeted political violence", he says.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed this morning in what appears to be a "politically motivated assassination".

He says an "unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota". He adds the state has lost a "great leader" and he has lost a "great friend".

Image source, Getty/Minnesota Senate

One lawmaker in the US state of Minnesota has been killed and another has been injured after "targeted shootings", Governor Tim Walz says.

Democratic politician Melissa Hortman (left in image above) and her husband have been killed, he says.

John Hoffman (right in image above), who is also a Democratic lawmaker, and his wife are recovering after surgery, he adds.