Photo: OCTAVIO JONES / AFP / Getty Images
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance by a man who charged her during a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday (January 27) night. Security quickly intervened, pulling Omar away and tackling the suspect, who was then restrained and escorted out of the building. The incident left Omar visibly shaken, but she was largely unharmed.
The event took place as Omar hosted her first in-person town hall of the year in North Minneapolis. Video from the scene captured moments of confusion and alarm among the crowd, with attendees reacting as the man sprayed the substance. Omar’s security team responded immediately, and the audience cheered when the man was subdued by security personnel.
After the incident, Omar addressed the crowd, stating, "Here's the reality that people like this ugly man don't understand; we are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us."
"We will continue," she added.
These f****** a******* are not going to get away with this," vowing not to let the attack disrupt her work.
A member of Omar's entourage described the substance as having a terrible smell and urged her to get checked out, but Omar chose to continue the event after the suspect was removed. Minneapolis police have not yet provided details about the substance or whether any arrests were made.
The attack on Omar comes amid heightened political tensions. Just hours earlier, President Donald Trump criticized Omar at a rally in Iowa, referencing her background and drawing boos from the crowd. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the incident.
Fellow lawmakers, including U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, condemned the attack, with Mace stating on social media, "No elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are."
Authorities are expected to release more information as the investigation continues and as officials determine the nature of the substance used in the attack.