Kolina Koltai
@koltai.bsky.social
Senior investigator & Trainer @Bellingcat.com
Investigating explicit non-consensual deepfakes/AI and disinfo w/OSINT
"I am a doctor, but not that kind of doctor."
Investigating explicit non-consensual deepfakes/AI and disinfo w/OSINT
"I am a doctor, but not that kind of doctor."
Hey, this was not this morning. This was Saturday morning, same day that Alex Pretti was killed, about a block away.
Video from this morning shows ICE agents deploying tear gas outside a Minneapolis preschool as parents shout, “This is a preschool! There’s kids here!”
January 27, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Hey, this was not this morning. This was Saturday morning, same day that Alex Pretti was killed, about a block away.
Really timely (timeless?) guide by @easybakeovensz.bsky.social on identifying the less-lethal weapons that federal agents have been using across the US.
I've seen a few people mistakenly say that hexachloroethane gas i being used in MN. Hopefully this guide will help w/correctly IDing in the future
I've seen a few people mistakenly say that hexachloroethane gas i being used in MN. Hopefully this guide will help w/correctly IDing in the future
Pepperball guns, tasers and tear gas are among the weapons recently deployed against protesters in the US. In a new guide, @easybakeovensz.bsky.social details some of the “less-lethal” equipment federal agents have carried during the current immigration raids. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
Guide: The ‘Less-Lethal’ Weapons Used by the DHS
Tear gas and PepperBall guns are among the weapons ICE and Border Patrol agents have been seen with at nationwide raids and protests related to immigration.
www.bellingcat.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Really timely (timeless?) guide by @easybakeovensz.bsky.social on identifying the less-lethal weapons that federal agents have been using across the US.
I've seen a few people mistakenly say that hexachloroethane gas i being used in MN. Hopefully this guide will help w/correctly IDing in the future
I've seen a few people mistakenly say that hexachloroethane gas i being used in MN. Hopefully this guide will help w/correctly IDing in the future
Reposted by Kolina Koltai
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
I grew up with Alex Pretti
The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.
www.theverge.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
Yes, DHS has used explosives on homes.
Like this case in Huntington Park, where they blasted the door down, with children in the house (6 yr old and 1 yr old). Everyone in the house is a US citizen.
Like this case in Huntington Park, where they blasted the door down, with children in the house (6 yr old and 1 yr old). Everyone in the house is a US citizen.
January 26, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Yes, DHS has used explosives on homes.
Like this case in Huntington Park, where they blasted the door down, with children in the house (6 yr old and 1 yr old). Everyone in the house is a US citizen.
Like this case in Huntington Park, where they blasted the door down, with children in the house (6 yr old and 1 yr old). Everyone in the house is a US citizen.
Thanks to @ashponders.bsky.social and @seamas.bsky.social for making me realize I'm severely underutilizing my position as a journalist.
January 26, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Thanks to @ashponders.bsky.social and @seamas.bsky.social for making me realize I'm severely underutilizing my position as a journalist.
Reposted by Kolina Koltai
Our government's atrocities are bringing together Bears fans and Packers fans.
January 25, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Our government's atrocities are bringing together Bears fans and Packers fans.
Reposted by Kolina Koltai
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, on January 24. DHS claims he died after an armed struggle, but videos of the incident appears to contradict that claim. Read our analysis here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting - bellingcat
Bellingcat has analysed video of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The footage appears to contradict statements made by the Department of Homeland Security.
www.bellingcat.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, on January 24. DHS claims he died after an armed struggle, but videos of the incident appears to contradict that claim. Read our analysis here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
Our analysis at @bellingcat.com on the killing of Alex Pretti breaks down the video evidence.
He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting - bellingcat
Bellingcat has analysed video of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The footage appears to contradict statements made by the Department of Homeland Security.
www.bellingcat.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Our analysis at @bellingcat.com on the killing of Alex Pretti breaks down the video evidence.
He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
In an ideal world, the general public shouldn't have to watch execution videos in slow-mo, at multiple angles, and scour the Internet for more evidence.
We should be able to trust officials and journalists to do it, but we've had to become a society of war investigators.
We should be able to trust officials and journalists to do it, but we've had to become a society of war investigators.
It's obviously good that citizens with smartphones can create multiple records of these shootings and undercut propaganda and government lies about them. But I find it a little deranging that being an informed news consumer in 2026 requires watching what are essentially snuff videos in slow-mo.
January 25, 2026 at 7:41 PM
In an ideal world, the general public shouldn't have to watch execution videos in slow-mo, at multiple angles, and scour the Internet for more evidence.
We should be able to trust officials and journalists to do it, but we've had to become a society of war investigators.
We should be able to trust officials and journalists to do it, but we've had to become a society of war investigators.
Reposted by Kolina Koltai
Here’s another Bellingcat series on an agent using “less lethal” munitions.
Analysing One Federal Agent’s Use of Less-Lethal Launcher in Minneapolis
After the fatal shooting of Renee Good, Border Patrol agent "EZ-17" was filmed shooting less-lethal munitions at protesters five times in five minutes.
www.bellingcat.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Here’s another Bellingcat series on an agent using “less lethal” munitions.
Video analysis below of the gun DHS says belong to Pretti being removed from the situation before the firs shot is heard.
A DHS statement claimed “an individual approached US Border Patrol officers” with “a handgun” in the Alex Pretti shooting incident. A Bellingcat analysis of the footage appears to show that a gun was taken away from where Pretti was situated by an agent just before the first shot was fired.
January 24, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Video analysis below of the gun DHS says belong to Pretti being removed from the situation before the firs shot is heard.
The gun that DHS says belongs to Pretti appears to be already in the hands of DHS before the first shot is heard.
The gun taken by the agent appears to match the general appearance of the firearm shared online by DHS, and which they said was Pretti’s. This agent’s back is turned from the scene with the gun in his hand when the first shot occurs.
January 24, 2026 at 10:44 PM
The gun that DHS says belongs to Pretti appears to be already in the hands of DHS before the first shot is heard.
I know this is not the point of this, but I almost missed the ripped hole in the crotch of his pants, being so distracted by a photographer having a weapon pointed at him
Federal agents shot and killed a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident on Saturday, the city’s police chief said. The shooting prompted clashes between law enforcement and protesters, as Minnesota officials renewed demands that the Trump administration end its immigration crackdown. trib.al/u8ESi4Q
January 24, 2026 at 9:51 PM
I know this is not the point of this, but I almost missed the ripped hole in the crotch of his pants, being so distracted by a photographer having a weapon pointed at him
There is a video circulating of federal agents tackling protestors and taking phones away from bystanders shortly after the killing of Alex Pretti.
There is a woman in a pink coat in this video, but it is NOT the same woman who filmed Pretti's killing. I've seen people claim it's the same person.
There is a woman in a pink coat in this video, but it is NOT the same woman who filmed Pretti's killing. I've seen people claim it's the same person.
January 24, 2026 at 9:44 PM
There is a video circulating of federal agents tackling protestors and taking phones away from bystanders shortly after the killing of Alex Pretti.
There is a woman in a pink coat in this video, but it is NOT the same woman who filmed Pretti's killing. I've seen people claim it's the same person.
There is a woman in a pink coat in this video, but it is NOT the same woman who filmed Pretti's killing. I've seen people claim it's the same person.
Boosting this again. Please, the image of the gun is not from 5 days ago.
I'm seeing people mistakenly claim the gun photo was posted before today, but its just how Google sometimes dates images based on the original date of the thread its posted in, not when it was posted. The photo was posted an hour ago in this 5 day old thread
www.reddit.com/r/fivethirty...
www.reddit.com/r/fivethirty...
January 24, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Boosting this again. Please, the image of the gun is not from 5 days ago.
Here is our synced video of three angles. We do have the 4th angle as well. We are continuing to analyze all the footage as it becomes available.
We’ve placed the available videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis today into the same synchronised timeline and are continuing to analyse further.
January 24, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Here is our synced video of three angles. We do have the 4th angle as well. We are continuing to analyze all the footage as it becomes available.
There are murders everywhere for those with the eyes to see
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
There are murders everywhere for those with the eyes to see
Our initial analysis is up.
The video footage appears to show that the gun was taken away from the man before he was shot.
He was UNARMED before any of the shots were fired.
The video footage appears to show that the gun was taken away from the man before he was shot.
He was UNARMED before any of the shots were fired.
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Our initial analysis is up.
The video footage appears to show that the gun was taken away from the man before he was shot.
He was UNARMED before any of the shots were fired.
The video footage appears to show that the gun was taken away from the man before he was shot.
He was UNARMED before any of the shots were fired.
Reposted by Kolina Koltai
I'm seeing people mistakenly claim the gun photo was posted before today, but its just how Google sometimes dates images based on the original date of the thread its posted in, not when it was posted. The photo was posted an hour ago in this 5 day old thread
www.reddit.com/r/fivethirty...
www.reddit.com/r/fivethirty...
January 24, 2026 at 6:35 PM
I'm seeing people mistakenly claim the gun photo was posted before today, but its just how Google sometimes dates images based on the original date of the thread its posted in, not when it was posted. The photo was posted an hour ago in this 5 day old thread
www.reddit.com/r/fivethirty...
www.reddit.com/r/fivethirty...
The video circulating of the person being killed by ICE is awful.
DHS is going to claim its self defense, just like they did with Renee Good. The video (for now) does not appear to show that he was brandishing a weapon while covered in agents.
We need the other angle that was filmed.
DHS is going to claim its self defense, just like they did with Renee Good. The video (for now) does not appear to show that he was brandishing a weapon while covered in agents.
We need the other angle that was filmed.
January 24, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The video circulating of the person being killed by ICE is awful.
DHS is going to claim its self defense, just like they did with Renee Good. The video (for now) does not appear to show that he was brandishing a weapon while covered in agents.
We need the other angle that was filmed.
DHS is going to claim its self defense, just like they did with Renee Good. The video (for now) does not appear to show that he was brandishing a weapon while covered in agents.
We need the other angle that was filmed.
Reposted by Kolina Koltai
Mind you, it's bitterly cold out right now.
-10 F (real feel of -24 F)
For any non-Americans, that's -23 C (real feel -31 C)
Minnesota is not playing around
-10 F (real feel of -24 F)
For any non-Americans, that's -23 C (real feel -31 C)
Minnesota is not playing around
Ben Damberg protest volunteer: “None of us want to be doing this — I don’t, but we simply cannot stand by as other Minnesotans are being hurt — we will march, we will protest, & we will do it all peacefully above all else”
January 23, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Mind you, it's bitterly cold out right now.
-10 F (real feel of -24 F)
For any non-Americans, that's -23 C (real feel -31 C)
Minnesota is not playing around
-10 F (real feel of -24 F)
For any non-Americans, that's -23 C (real feel -31 C)
Minnesota is not playing around
It's cold in Seattle, but not as cold as it is in Minneapolis.
Ice out for good protest happening today at the federal building at 6.
Ice out for good protest happening today at the federal building at 6.
January 23, 2026 at 8:15 PM
It's cold in Seattle, but not as cold as it is in Minneapolis.
Ice out for good protest happening today at the federal building at 6.
Ice out for good protest happening today at the federal building at 6.
Rejecting Decades of Science, Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:54 PM