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Shooting at Minnesota clinic leaves at least 5 injured, rumors of bomb explosion unconfirmed with 1 in custody

As per reports, several victims of the shooting were brought to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale. The hospital’s spokesperson, however, did not say how many or what condition they were in

On Tuesday, February 9, multiple people were shot at a health clinic in Buffalo, 42 miles northwest of Minneapolis in Wright County, Minnesota. As per news reports, one person has so far been taken into custody. The shooting reportedly happened at an Allina clinic, as per Kelly Prestidge, an office manager for the Buffalo Police Department. 

As per a report in the New York Post, the shooting left at least five people critically wounded. The Star Tribune reported that a bomb had also exploded inside, adding that there also was a "high suspicion" of a bomb threat directed at a nearby Super 8 hotel. Wright County spokesman John Holler told CNN that three people were critically injured and were airlifted out, he said. He described the incident as a "shooting" and said there were no bombs on the scene.

Prestidge told the Associated Press that one person was taken into custody, but could not confirm if it was the shooter. Police Chief Pat Budke told the press that the shooting happened inside the Allina Clinic Crossroads campus. He said the situation was contained shortly before noon and that there was no further threat to the public’s safety.

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Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms’ enforcement group, and special agents from the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were reportedly headed to the scene, spokespeople for the agencies said. In fact, the St. Paul division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives tweeted: “@ATFStPaul is in route to a healthcare facility in Buffalo, Minnesota, after reports of an active shooter situation. No further details are available at this time.”

An FBI spokesman called Kevin Smith said that the agency’s bomb technicians were on their way to the scene. Smith, however, did not confirm media reports about a possible bomb or explosion at the clinic.

As per reports, several victims of the shooting were brought to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale. The hospital’s spokesperson, however, did not say how many or what condition they were in. Allina Health spokesman Timothy Burke declined to say if any victims were brought to its Buffalo hospital. Allina Health, a not-for-profit health care system, is per its website, “dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families, and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.”

The Star Tribune however reported that a female with three gunshot wounds was taken by air ambulance to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, where two others also were transported, emergency medical personnel were heard saying on dispatch audio. Two others were taken to Allina-operated Buffalo Hospital.
A state Department of Public Health spokesman said he didn’t immediately know if the clinic has been administering COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Buffalo has a population of about 16,000 people, and the city's residents are about 97.5% White with a median household income slightly above the state average, according to the US Census.