A man rushed toward US Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday and sprayed her with a foul-smelling liquid, briefly disrupting the event before he was subdued and arrested.
Video from the scene shows the man charging at Omar as she stood at the lectern, spraying a stream of liquid toward her while shouting. A member of the audience quickly tackled the man to the ground as others moved to restrain him. Omar stepped back momentarily, then returned to the stage and continued speaking after a short pause.
Minneapolis police said officers witnessed the suspect use a syringe to spray an unknown substance at the Democratic lawmaker. He was immediately taken into custody and charged with third-degree assault. Authorities said Omar was not injured, and forensic teams were called to examine the scene.
“He sprayed something on her,” a woman at the town hall could be heard saying, while at least one woman commented on the foul odor. “I need a napkin,” Omar remarked as the man was taken away, before she said, “We will continue.”
The incident occurred as Omar was sharply criticizing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following the recent fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis during intensified immigration enforcement operations.
“ICE cannot be reformed, it cannot be rehabilitated we must abolish ICE for good,” Omar said to applause from the crowd, also calling for Noem to resign or face impeachment. Moments later, the man charged toward her, shouting for her to resign.
Omar has long been a target of political attacks from former President Donald Trump. During a speech in Iowa on Tuesday, Trump again criticized her, saying she did not love the United States.
“They have to show that they can love our country, they have to be proud,” Trump said when talking about immigrants. “Not like Ilhan Omar,” he added.
The town hall resumed shortly after the incident, with Omar continuing her remarks under increased security.
