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A man sprayed an unknown substance at Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday, prompting security and members of the audience to tackle him to the ground. The incident happened amid heightened tensions in the city over federal immigration enforcement and recent fatal shootings involving immigration agents.
Video from the event shows the man being restrained as people in the crowd shouted in alarm, with one voice clearly saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.” Audience members then cheered as his arms were tied behind his back and he was escorted away.
Moments before the attack, Omar had been speaking forcefully about immigration policy. She had called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying the agency could not be reformed, and demanded that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem resign or face impeachment. Pressure has been growing in Congress for Noem to step down following the shooting deaths of two people in Minneapolis who had protested deportations earlier this month. Few Republican lawmakers have publicly defended her.
Minneapolis police said officers witnessed the man use a syringe-like device to spray an unknown liquid toward Omar. He was immediately arrested and booked into the county jail on suspicion of third-degree assault, according to police spokesperson Trevor Folke. Forensic experts were called to the scene to examine the substance. Authorities identified the suspect as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak. It was not immediately known whether he had legal representation.
Despite the disruption, Omar returned to the stage and continued speaking for about 25 minutes after the man was removed. She told the audience she would not be intimidated and thanked them for their support.
An Associated Press journalist who attended the event reported a strong, vinegarlike smell after the substance was released. Photos of the device left on the floor showed a light-brown liquid inside. Officials have not yet confirmed what the substance was. Minneapolis City Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw said some of the liquid also came into contact with her and State Senator Bobby Joe Champion, calling the experience deeply unsettling. No one in the crowd of roughly 100 people showed any immediate physical reaction.
After the event, Omar said she felt shaken but was not injured and planned to be checked by a medical team. Later, she posted on the social platform X that she was OK, describing herself as a survivor and saying she would not allow a “small agitator” to stop her from doing her work.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump has frequently criticized Omar and has intensified his attacks in recent months as he focused attention on Minneapolis. During a Cabinet meeting in December, he referred to her using a derogatory term. Earlier on Tuesday, while speaking at an event in Iowa, Trump again criticized Omar, saying his administration would only admit immigrants who could show they loved the country, drawing boos from the crowd at the mention of her name.
Omar, a U.S. citizen, fled Somalia with her family at the age of eight during the country’s civil war. The Minneapolis–St. Paul area is home to about 84,000 people of Somali descent, making it one of the largest Somali communities in the United States.
Leaders from both parties condemned the attack. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was grateful Omar was safe and warned that political violence had deeply affected the state in recent years. He urged national leaders to stop using inflammatory and dehumanizing language. Republican Representative Nancy Mace also denounced the incident, saying that regardless of political disagreements, no elected official should face physical harm. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the attack unacceptable and thanked police for their swift response.
The incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of lawmakers. Threats against members of Congress have increased steadily, according to U.S. Capitol Police, who reported nearly 15,000 concerning cases in 2025 alone. Following the assault on Omar, Capitol Police said they were working with federal partners to ensure the suspect faces serious charges in order to deter future violence.