Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar
MINNEAPOLIS — A man sprayed an unknown substance at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement reached a fever pitch after agents fatally shot an intensive care nurse and a mother of three this month.
The audience cheered as the man, who wore a black jacket and held a syringe, was pinned down and his arms tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my God, he sprayed something on her.” »
Just before that, Omar called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“ICE cannot be reformed,” she said.
Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid on Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him into the county jail on charges of third-degree assault, spokesman Trevor Folke said in an email.
Omar continued the town hall after the man was taken out of the room by her security guards, saying she would not be intimidated. Reporters said there was a strong smell of vinegar when the man pressed the syringe.
As she left afterwards, Omar said she felt a little troubled but was not hurt. She was going to be examined by a medical team.
She later posted on the social platform
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday evening.
President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and increased verbal attacks against her in recent months as he focused on Minneapolis.
At a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “trash” and added that “her friends are trash.”
Hours earlier Tuesday, the president criticized Omar while speaking to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only allow in immigrants who “can show they love our country.”
“They should be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of his name.
He added: “She comes from a country that is a disaster. So probably it’s considered, I think, that it’s not even a country.”
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina, denounced the attack on Omar.
“I am deeply troubled to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today,” Mace said via
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people in danger.”
He added that he was relieved that Omar was “doing well” and thanked the police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.” »
The attack came days after a man was arrested in Utah for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to expel him.
Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before declining slightly and rising again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.
Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats are causing on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decision not to run again.
Omar has faced particular concern, long the target of harsh words and personal attacks from Trump and other Republicans.
