U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unidentified substance during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday, but she vowed to continue her remarks and was not seriously injured, officials said.
The incident drew swift condemnation from political leaders across the country.
A man walked toward Rep. Ilhan Omar as she was speaking at a community event in Minneapolis on January 27, spraying a foul‑smelling liquid toward her from what appeared to be a syringe.
Video from the event shows security personnel and others tackling the man and restraining him shortly after the incident. He was taken into custody on suspicion of third‑degree assault, Minneapolis authorities said.
⚡️ILHAN OMAR SPRAYED WITH A MYSTERIOUS SUBSTANCE pic.twitter.com/TARQ6PfBbi
— RT (@RT_com) January 28, 2026
Omar was uninjured and chose to continue her town hall after the disruption, later saying she would “not be intimidated” by the attack.
Reaction from Omar
Shortly after the event, Omar wrote on X that she was okay and refused to let the attack deter her work. She described herself as a “survivor” who would not let “bullies win”, thanking her constituents for their support.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the incident, saying violence and intimidation have no place in civic discourse.
Political leaders from both parties also responded to the attack.
South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace wrote that no elected official should face physical attacks, regardless of political differences.
The episode occurred amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis over a broader federal immigration enforcement campaign and recent deaths, including the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents — a development that has sparked local protests and national debates.
Omar’s background
Ilhan Omar, a Somali‑American former refugee, has been a frequent target of criticism from U.S. conservatives for her stances on issues such as immigration reform and her opposition to U.S. policy on Gaza.
At the town hall just before the attack, Omar had called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment, remarks that reflect her long‑standing criticism of federal immigration enforcement.
