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.

The Conservative Party has dismissed Robert Jenrick from his role as shadow justice secretary after leader Kemi Badenoch said she was presented with what she described as “clear, irrefutable evidence” that he had been secretly plotting to defect in a manner intended to cause maximum damage to the party.

Mr Jenrick’s removal followed the discovery that a resignation speech had been printed and left unattended, an episode that senior party figures said raised serious concerns about his intentions and loyalty. Badenoch acted decisively after being briefed on the circumstances, signalling a firm approach to internal discipline as the party seeks to stabilise and refocus.

As a result of the decision, Jenrick no longer holds any frontbench role, and a successor as shadow justice secretary is yet to be named. While he continues to represent the Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, he is now sitting as an independent MP. Under parliamentary rules, members are not required to resign their seat if they change party allegiance, allowing constituents to continue to be represented without disruption.

In addition to losing his shadow cabinet position, Jenrick’s personal membership of the Conservative Party has been suspended. This suspension strips him of several party privileges, including the right to attend the annual Conservative Party conference and to vote in future leadership elections.

Party sources said the swift action was intended to draw a clear line under the episode and demonstrate the leadership’s commitment to transparency and cohesion. Supporters of Badenoch argue that the move reinforces a message of accountability and strengthens the party’s ability to move forward with a united front, as attention now turns to rebuilding trust and setting out a clear political direction in the months ahead.

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.