MINNESOTA police are on a manhunt for the killer of a Democrat politician and her husband, who also shot and wounded another Democrat.

Police have named Vance L Boelter as the suspect and the FBI is offering a $50,000 (£37,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.

Former Minnesota House of Representatives speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed in their Brooklyn Park home on Saturday by a man who gained entry posing as a police officer.

The same man is believed to have shot John Hoffman, a member of the state’s Senate, and his wife Yvette at their home in Champlin about nine miles away. The couple have multiple gunshot wounds, but authorities say they are “cautiously optimistic” they will survive.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said Ms Hortman’s killing was a “politically motivated assassination.” It deepens fears that political polarisation in Donald Trump’s US is leading to increased political violence.