EU Official Teresa Ribera Says She Was 'Shocked' By Minneapolis Shootings, Urges Unity on Transatlantic Strains

European Union official Teresa Ribera said she was "shocked" by the "terrifying" images from Minneapolis after two US citizens were shot dead during a federal immigration enforcement operation that sparked weeks of protests.

Speaking to AFP from her office in Brussels, Ribera named the victims — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — and described the scenes as "senseless" and anonymous violence that she does not want to see in Europe or the United States.

"I don't want that for my country or my continent," Ribera said. "For me, it was terrible — the shock of seeing how Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and small children, women, and men are treated with such senseless violence, especially because it's anonymous."

Minneapolis has seen weeks of demonstrations after masked, heavily armed federal agents conducted roundups of undocumented migrants. Officials say both 37-year-old victims were participating in protests against the sweeps when they were shot.

Ribera's public reaction stood out from the European Commission's more cautious official posture, which has so far described the unrest as largely an "internal" matter for the United States and stopped short of an explicit condemnation.

She said she was counting on US institutions — Congress, the courts and wider American society — and on federal authorities to investigate the killings and help restore normality. "This happened in a country founded on an ideal of freedom, the protection of rights, and respect for individuals," she said.

Wider Transatlantic Tensions

Ribera also used the interview to reflect on broader strains in EU-US relations since last year, pointing to episodes such as the dispute over Greenland and recent threats around tariffs and visa restrictions as signs that Europe must respond in a clear, united way.

"We received this very harsh and very threatening message" over Greenland, she said, arguing it underlined "how important it is to react in a clear and united way." While immediate tensions have eased in some areas, Ribera warned that Europe needs to hold to its core principles and be prepared to be firm when necessary.

She additionally criticized what she called attacks on European officials involved in tech and regulatory matters and reiterated that Europe would continue to pursue its regulatory agenda where appropriate, even amid threats of retaliation.

Background

Ribera has at times been a vocal and dissenting voice within EU political debates. In the past she has made strong public statements on international issues, and she used social media to share reactions — including endorsing former President Barack Obama’s description of one killing as a "wake-up call" and posting artistic responses to the events.

As investigations and political reactions continue in the United States, Ribera’s comments highlight how domestic incidents can reverberate across the Atlantic and feed into a larger conversation about democratic norms, policing and international cooperation.