MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 27 — A man sprayed Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar with a foul-smelling liquid during a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday. Police quickly arrested the suspect.
Ilhan Omar was uninjured and continued her speech after a short pause. A security guard subdued the man immediately, according to witnesses and video from the event. Police charged him with third-degree assault.
Omar was addressing actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Minnesota. She criticized ICE and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, calling for Noem’s resignation following recent deaths during immigration enforcement operations.
“ICE cannot be reformed. It must be abolished. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign,” Omar said, receiving applause from the audience.
Moments later, a man in the front row sprayed her with the contents of what police described as a syringe. He shouted at Omar, “You must resign.” She stepped toward him with her hand raised before he was restrained.
Despite the incident, resumed her remarks. She declined medical attention, saying she only needed a napkin. Her office later confirmed that she was fine.
Forensic teams collected evidence at the scene. Witnesses reported that the liquid smelled of ammonia and caused minor throat irritation.
Omar told attendees, “I learned at a young age; you don’t give in to threats. You face them and stand strong.”
The attack comes amid repeated public criticism of Omar by former President Donald Trump, who has targeted her Somali background and political actions.
Ilhan Omar came to the U.S. at age 12 and became a citizen in 2000. She has faced multiple threats over the years. U.S. Capitol Police reported a nearly 58% increase in threat assessment cases in 2025 compared to 2024, reflecting rising security concerns for lawmakers. Read the full details on France’s plan to restrict social media access for minors under 15.
The Minneapolis Police Department continues to investigate the incident, and the suspect remains in custody.
