Assassination attempt on politicians in Minnesota: Democratic leader dead, senator injured

The leader Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman was shot dead in Brooklyn Park on the outskirts of Minneapolis, and state senator John Hoffman shot on the night from Friday to Saturday, state authorities reported. The attack was be politically motivated and the perpetrator was disguised as a policeman.

As stated by state officials during a press conference police, the first attack, against Hoffman and his wife, took place at 2 a.m. local time in Champlin, a suburb of Minneapolis. The couple was shot several times and is in hospital and has a chance of survival.

To attack Hortman, the former speaker of parliament, and her husband happened an hour later in Brooklyn Park, about 10 km away. When the police showed up at the politician's house to check if she had also been attacked, they saw the perpetrator dressed in a police uniform who arrived by car looking "exactly like a police car." After an exchange of fire with the police, the perpetrator fled the scene on the run, and the search for him continues. Hortman and her husband died.

State Governor Tim Walz said the attack was motivated politically. A political manifesto and a list were found in the perpetrator's car targets, which had the names of politicians on them. The police identified the identity potential perpetrator, but it has not yet been made public.

"Our state has lost a great leader, and I have lost dearest friend. Speaker Hortman was someone who served the residents Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service, was a constant element and giant in Minnesota every day," Walz said. "It was an act targeted political violence. Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We do not resolve our differences by force or by threat of arms" - he added.

The attack was also condemned by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced that the FBI would participate in the investigation. "These types of horrific acts violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law" - she declared.

Such terrible violence will not be tolerated in the United States, said US President Donald Trump, commenting on the attacks on Democratic politicians in Minnesota. Saturday's anti-Trump demonstration was canceled in the state because of the attacks.

"I have been informed of a horrific shooting that took place in Minnesota that appears to be an intentional attack on state legislators. Our Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are investigating the situation and will prosecute anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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