A former pastor and missionary has been arrested in Minnesota, after what authorities have described as one of the largest manhunts in the state’s history

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, has been arrested following the deaths of Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also injured, having been struck 17 times.

Boelter was taken into custody west of Minneapolis after surrendering peacefully to police in a wooded area. According to investigators, he crawled towards officers before being detained. He now faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, and is expected to appear in court in Minneapolis on Monday.

Authorities say Boelter worked as a security contractor and has been a religious missionary in Africa and the Middle East. Social media photos show him preaching as a church pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He previously served on the same state workforce development board as State Senator John Hoffman, who was also targeted in the attack.

Mrs Hoffman said she and her husband feel “incredibly lucky" to be alive but are in shock at the loss of their friends. “There is never a place for this kind of political hate,” she said.

Governor Tim Walz described the incident as a "politically motivated assassination" and an “unspeakable act” that had “altered the state of Minnesota”. While no police officers were injured, officials commended the “skill and bravery” of those involved in the arrest.

The motive for the attack is unknown, however both Governor Walz and State Senator Amy Klobuchar have suggested it may have been politically motivated.

Boelter is also accused of impersonating a police officer during the attack.