A jet known as a ‘flying war room’ has left Washington DC and is heading towards the midwestern United States as unrest over ICE operations grows.
The Air Force Boeing C-40B Clipper is often used to fly high-security government officials and military leaders.
It left Camp Springs, near Washington DC, early this morning. Its destination and mission are currently unknown.
Military sites describe the jet, which was first deployed in 2003, as having sleep accommodations, galleys and business class seating with work tables.
It typically carries members of the presidential cabinet, legislators and military commanders.
The purpose of the flight is also unknown – though the jet is used to transfer officials such as the Vice President, its movement also comes amid growing unrest in the United States.
This weekend, 37-year-old Alex Pretti had been filming officers and protesting immigration raids in Minneapolis when he was gunned down and allegedly denied first aid.
A video shared widely on social media and verified by US media outlets showed Pretti never drew his weapon, which he was legally allowed to carry.
Immigration agents fired at him seconds after he was sprayed in the face with a chemical irritant and thrown to the ground.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino has since defended the killing of Pretti – claiming the agents were the real victims.
He said an investigation into ‘what happened in the intervening moment’ has been launched, insisting that ‘those questions will be answered soon enough’.
The interviewer asked Bovino whether he felt there was any evidence of Mr Pretti assaulting any law enforcement officers, to which Bovino claimed his ‘help’ at the scene was not needed.
‘What our officers are faced with here in Minneapolis are chaotic, very difficult and violent situations,’ Bovino said before blaming Mr Pretti for ‘bringing a loaded weapon to a riot’.
Protests nationwide are growing – Pretti is the second US citizen to be killed by ICE agents, who claimed both Pretti and victim Renee Good were ‘impeding operations’ to justify their deaths.
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