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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday labeled the alleged actions of the suspect killed in a Border Patrol-involved capturing in Minneapolis as “domestic terrorism,” accusing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of inciting violence in opposition to federal officers whereas stressing that President Donald Trump is ready to invoke the Insurrection Act if deemed vital.
“When you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and perpetuate violence, that is the definition of domestic terrorism,” Noem mentioned throughout a information convention at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers committed an act of domestic terrorism,” Noem added. “That’s the facts.”
Noem described the incident starting whereas DHS officers carried out “targeted operations” in Minneapolis in opposition to an unlawful alien whose prison historical past included home assault, disorderly conduct, and driving with no legitimate license.
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters, Saturday, in Washington, D.C. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun,” and agents attempted to disarm him. “The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently,” Noem said. “Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.”
Medics attempted to render aid, Noem said, but the man, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, “was pronounced dead at the scene.”
She also claimed that the Pretti had “two magazines with ammunition in them that held dozens of rounds” and no identification.
“This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement,” Noem said.
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Anti-ICE agitators stand behind a barricade of trash bins as they gather near the site a man was shot and killed by a federal agent, Saturday, in Minneapolis. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP via Getty Images)
The shooting was followed by unrest in the area, Noem said.
“Hundreds of protesters then showed up at the scene,” she said. “They began to obstruct and to assault law enforcement officers,” she added. “We saw objects being thrown at them, including ice and other objects, and a rampant assault began.
“A [Homeland Security Investigation] HSI agent’s finger was bitten off.”
She said crowd-control measures were deployed “to carry security to the general public and to regulation enforcement on the scene.”
Noem said the situation “didn’t should occur,” placing blame on Minnesota’s political leadership.
“The Minnesota governor and the Minneapolis mayor have to take an extended, laborious look within the mirror,” she said. “They want to judge their rhetoric, their conversations, and their encouragement of such violence in opposition to our residents and our regulation enforcement officers.”
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Noem claimed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has “encouraged residents and citizens and violent rioters to resist.” (Reuters/Tim Evans)
She also accused Walz of undermining federal officers. “I’ll remind you that Governor Walz, at the moment in his press convention, mentioned that our officers weren’t even regulation enforcement, which is a lie,” Noem said. “He’s referred to as them the Gestapo.”
Noem further claimed Walz “inspired residents and residents and violent rioters to withstand,” and alleged that state leaders had doxed federal officers, “placing themselves and their households’ lives in jeopardy.”
During the briefing, Noem was asked whether Trump was closer to invoking the Insurrection Act in response to the unrest. She did not rule it out.
“The president will use each device that he must observe by way of on his guarantees to the American folks,” Noem said.
She added that the Trump administration would continue operating in Minneapolis despite objections from state and local leaders.
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“We’re going to deal with Minneapolis precisely the way in which that we now have handled each different metropolis throughout this nation,” Noem said, referring to immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge underway nationwide.
Noem said DHS is investigating the shooting “identical to we do all different officer-involved shootings,” and that extra particulars could be launched because the investigation continues.
The White House didn’t instantly reply to Fox News Digital’s request for remark in response to Noem’s remarks.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, the place she covers politics, the army, religion and tradition.
