U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid by a man using a syringe during a town hall meeting Tuesday night, shortly after she called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to authorities and multiple news reports.
The incident occurred at a community meeting attended by about 100 people in north Minneapolis. Video of the encounter shows a man approaching the lectern, spraying an unidentified substance in Omar’s direction, and then being tackled to the ground by security personnel. No serious injuries were reported, and the crowd reacted with alarm and disbelief.
Police said the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and booked into Hennepin County Jail. Forensic teams responded to the scene to analyze the substance, which witnesses described as having a strong, vinegar-like smell, but officials have not yet confirmed its contents.
Omar, who was not visibly hurt, resumed her remarks after the disruption and later posted on the social platform X that she was “ok” and would not be intimidated.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the attack as “unacceptable,” and both Democratic and Republican lawmakers spoke out against the incident, stating that elected officials should not face physical attacks regardless of political differences.
The event unfolded amid heightened tensions in Minnesota following recent confrontations between federal immigration agents and protesters. Omar’s remarks just before the attack focused on those clashes and immigration enforcement policies.
Political responses to the incident have varied, with some national figures questioning circumstances around the attack and others emphasizing the need to counter threats against public officials.
