A Minneapolis man charged and sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) with an unknown liquid at a town hall hosted by the Congresswoman on Tuesday.
The incident occurred during a public forum in north Minneapolis, where Omar was addressing constituents on immigration policy and recent federal enforcement actions. Video from the event shows a man approaching the stage before extending his arm toward Omar and spraying a liquid substance from a handheld device.
Security personnel immediately tackled the man and removed him from the room as attendees shouted. Minneapolis police later confirmed the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the substance, which is undergoing testing. No serious injuries were reported, and Omar declined medical treatment at the scene, according to officials.
After a brief interruption, Omar returned to the podium and continued speaking, drawing applause from audience members. In remarks following the incident, she emphasized resilience and said the disruption would not deter her from engaging directly with constituents.
“We will continue,” she said. “These fucking assholes are not going to get away with this.”
Local and national leaders quickly condemned the act. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the incident “deeply disturbing,” while lawmakers from both parties said political disagreements must never escalate into physical confrontations.
The attempted assault comes amid heightened national concern over threats against public officials. The U.S. Capitol Police has repeatedly warned of an increase in harassment and attacks directed at members of Congress, both in Washington and at events in their home districts.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Omar in recent days, saying she has committed fraud without providing evidence to support this claim.
Omar later addressed the incident on social media, assuring supporters she was safe and thanking security personnel and first responders for their quick action.
“This will not stop me from showing up for the people I represent,” she wrote.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the suspect’s motive and the nature of the substance used in the attack.
