A federal law enforcement officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel during an attempted arrest, US authorities have said, in the latest flashpoint amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in the city.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the incident followed a car chase involving a Venezuelan national who was in the United States illegally. According to the agency, the pursuit ended in a crash in the Hawthorne area of Minneapolis, after which the driver fled on foot.

DHS officials said the officer caught up with the suspect, but was then confronted by two additional individuals who joined the scene. The three are alleged to have attacked the officer, with one using a shovel. In response, the officer discharged his weapon, striking one of the men in the leg. Authorities said the injury was not life-threatening.

The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened anxiety in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last week. That earlier shooting sparked protests in the city, which later spread to other parts of the United States, placing federal immigration operations under intense public scrutiny.

Following Wednesday’s shooting, fresh clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement near the scene. Local media, including the Minnesota Star Tribune, reported that several vehicles believed to belong to the federal government were damaged during the unrest.

City officials appealed for calm, urging residents to avoid further escalation and emphasising the importance of peaceful protest. They also stressed the need for clear communication between law enforcement agencies and the community as investigations into recent incidents continue.

The political response has been swift. In a social media post on Thursday morning, US President Donald Trump warned that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to act to “stop the professional agitators”, signalling a tougher federal stance should unrest continue.

Iran’s judiciary has firmly denied reports that it planned to execute Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old man detained in connection with the country’s recent wave of protests, amid growing international scrutiny and diplomatic pressure.

Earlier this week, Norway-based Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw claimed that Soltani’s family had been informed he was due to be executed on Wednesday, only days after his arrest. The group later said the family had been told the execution was “postponed”, while stressing that “serious and ongoing concerns” for his life remained.

However, Iran’s judiciary dismissed the reports outright, stating that Soltani is facing charges of “colluding against national security” and engaging in “propaganda activities against the establishment”. According to officials, neither of these charges carries the death penalty under Iranian law. State broadcaster IRIB quoted judicial authorities as describing claims by foreign media that Soltani faced imminent execution as a “blatant act of news fabrication”.

The denial was reinforced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said there was “no plan” to carry out executions linked to the recent protests, seeking to reassure both domestic and international audiences.

The issue has attracted significant attention abroad, particularly after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would take “very strong action” if Iran proceeded with executing protesters. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said he had been informed by “very important sources on the other side” that executions were not going ahead. “The killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions,” he said.

The statements from Iran’s judiciary and senior officials, alongside comments from international leaders, have helped to ease immediate fears over Soltani’s fate, although human rights groups continue to monitor the situation closely as legal proceedings move forward.

At least 28 people have been confirmed dead and 64 others injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in north-eastern Thailand, prompting swift rescue efforts and a high-level government investigation aimed at preventing future tragedies.

The accident occurred at around 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT) as the train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province. Officials said the falling crane struck the train with force, derailing it and crushing several carriages. One carriage caught fire following the impact, intensifying the emergency response.

According to official records, approximately 195 passengers were on board at the time of the crash. Emergency services responded rapidly, with rescuers later confirming that all passengers had been fully evacuated. Many of the injured were transported to hospitals across the region for treatment, with medical teams continuing to monitor those in critical condition.

Among the injured are a one-year-old child and an 85-year-old elderly passenger. Authorities said eight of the wounded remain in severe condition, while others are receiving ongoing care and are reported to be stable.

The crane involved in the incident was being used in the construction of an overhead railway, part of a China-backed infrastructure project designed to link Bangkok with neighbouring Laos. Laos is already connected to south-western China through a Chinese-built high-speed rail line, making the project a key element of regional transport integration.

One survivor, train staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern, told local media that passengers were violently thrown into the air when the crane collapsed onto the train, describing moments of panic before rescue teams arrived.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed deep concern over the incident and vowed accountability. He ordered an immediate investigation and stressed that those responsible would be held to account.

“Accidents like this can only happen due to negligence, skipped steps, deviations from the design, or the use of incorrect materials,” Anutin said, adding that safety failures would not be tolerated.

The tragedy has renewed attention on construction safety in Thailand, where deadly accidents have occurred in the past, often linked to weak enforcement of safety standards. Authorities say the latest investigation will not only determine responsibility but also strengthen oversight to ensure safer construction practices going forward.