Federal authorities on Tuesday took at least two people into custody in St. Paul during an operation that drew protesters and led to law enforcement using chemical irritants and firing less-lethal munitions into the crowd.

There was no immediate confirmation about the nature of the operation, which took place on the 600 block of Rose Avenue East, a residential area in the city’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood.

MPR News photojournalist Kerem Yücel captured images of federal agents on the scene, including at least three from Homeland Security Investigations, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Video from the scene showed dozens of protesters clashing with officers, and law enforcement in gas masks shooting munitions and gas at the crowd. Less-lethal “sponge round” bullets and pep

See Full Page