Minneapolis Shooting, ‘Dark Fleet’ Tankers, and Drone Strikes By Thomas Copeland, BBC Verify Live Journalist Today on BBC Verify Live, we covered several major stories: the recent deadly federal agent shooting in Minneapolis, police staffing changes in England and Wales, two “dark fleet” oil tankers showing erratic behavior in the Mediterranean, and a drone strike on a residential high-rise in Kharkiv, Ukraine. **Detailed Video Captures Minneapolis Shooting** Benedict Garman and Thomas Copeland examined a nine-minute video filmed inside a car beside where Alex Pretti was fatally shot. The footage reveals close-up moments before, during, and after the shooting on Saturday. Pretti is seen intervening as federal agents push people away from traffic. After he is pepper-sprayed, multiple agents attempt to subdue him. A shout of “gun” precedes the fatal shots. Following the shooting, agents search for a gun near Pretti’s body, a medic is called but one agent slips on ice en route. The video’s uploader has submitted it as evidence to authorities. **Verifying Location of Alleged Israeli Strike in Lebanon** Sherie Ryder investigated footage circulating on social media claiming an Israeli strike on a vehicle in Tyre, southern Lebanon. By identifying a nearby al-Abdallah chicken restaurant and a blue American University of Culture and Education (AUCE) sign visible through a window, she confirmed the footage’s location using Google Maps. Reverse image search and AI detection confirmed the clips were recent and authentic. **Videos Show Russian Military Movements in Northeast Syria** Sherie Ryder and Kumar Malhotra analyzed reports of a possible Russian withdrawal from the Qamishli air base near Turkey. Videos show Russian personnel and equipment moving within the airport, with a Russian flag visible and a cargo plane open and possibly loading vehicles. The footage, from Kurdish TV, was confirmed to be recent. Although speculation suggests Russia may be leaving due to Syrian government advances, troop withdrawal is unconfirmed. **Labour’s Decision on Andy Burnham and Mayoral By-Elections Explained** Anthony Reuben clarified Labour’s choice to bar Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election. Labour rules prohibit simultaneous mayoral and parliamentary roles, and Burnham’s resignation would prompt a by-election involving over two million voters—equivalent to about 28 parliamentary polls at once. Legislation mandates a by-election if the mayor resigns more than six months before term-end, ruling out the deputy mayor temporarily assuming office. **Concerns over Mediterranean “Dark Fleet” Tankers** Joshua Cheetham reported on two “dark fleet” tankers—the Chariot Tide and Progress—showing irregular movements and signaling “Not Under Command” in the Mediterranean. The Chariot Tide, flagged to Mozambique and uninsured, skirted through the Strait of Gibraltar supported by tugboats, then moved erratically eastward. Progress similarly reported mechanical issues and changed course. Analysts note these older vessels involved in illicit oil trading are maintenance-prone, raising risks of accidents or spills without clear liability.

**AI-Enhanced Images of Minneapolis Shooting Are Misleading** Thomas Copeland noted the viral spread of AI-enhanced images based on a single shooting frame, which altered agent appearances (e. g. , erasing a kneeling agent’s head). Generative-AI expert Henry Ajder cautions that such enhancements are predictive approximations, not new evidence, risking public confusion. Earlier AI attempts to “unmask” agents linked to Minneapolis shootings have similarly produced misleading results. **False Claims about Gun Photos Disproved by Image Search Analysis** Investigating claims that a gun photo related to Pretti circulated days before the shooting, Thomas Copeland revealed these originated from misunderstandings of Google Lens reverse image search results. The tool showed a Reddit thread dated before the incident, but the gun image was posted only afterward. The date reflects thread creation, not photo posting, dispelling claims of fakery. **Do ICE Agents Wear Body Cameras?** Lucy Gilder explored the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE began deploying 1, 600 cameras in a 2024 pilot but lacks published data on usage rates. Since Trump’s 2025 return to office, he rescinded a 2021 law promoting BWCs, and ICE’s 2025-26 budget proposed cutting 19 BWC program jobs, suggesting a rollback in accountability measures. **Police Numbers in England and Wales: Facts and Figures** Tamara Kovacevic detailed police staffing trends ahead of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s forthcoming policing reforms. Although Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp claims police numbers fell under Labour, data shows a slight 0. 9% drop in full-time officers from March 2024 to March 2025, a period spanning both Tory and Labour governance. Notably, neighborhood policing personnel slightly rose by 1. 3% in the same timeframe, aligning with Labour’s manifesto goal of increasing community officers by 13, 000 by 2029. **Tracking Two Erratic “Dark Fleet” Tankers in the Mediterranean** Two older sanctioned oil tankers, Progress and Chariot Tide, both showed “Not Under Command” signals indicating maneuverability issues, moving erratically near Algeria and the Strait of Gibraltar, respectively. Progress has resumed engine use, heading to Port Said with oil, while tugboats assisted Chariot Tide before it resumed steady eastward travel. Experts are investigating the causes and implications. **Drone Strike Footage Verified in Kharkiv, Ukraine** Rob Corp reports on dramatic drone strike videos depicting an apartment building attack in Kharkiv. BBC Verify is validating the footage’s authenticity and will provide updates. **Summary** Today’s BBC Verify Live focused on thorough investigations into critical global and local events: analyzing close-up Minneapolis shooting footage; verifying Middle Eastern strike locations; monitoring Russian military movements in Syria; explaining UK mayoral election protocols amidst Labour Party decisions; scrutinizing suspicious “dark fleet” tanker activity; addressing AI image manipulation risks; debunking misinformation about shooting-related gun photos; exploring U. S. ICE accountability via body cameras; and examining policing figures in England and Wales. Further updates and fact-checks will continue tomorrow.