Minneapolis — Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid by a man during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday, authorities and witnesses said, in an assault that underscored rising tensions over immigration policy and political violence in the United States.
The incident occurred at a community center in north Minneapolis as Omar was addressing constituents on federal immigration enforcement, including recent fatal shootings by immigration agents in the city. Moments before the attack, she had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and urged the resignation or impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Video footage of the event shows a man rising from the front row and spraying a brownish liquid from what appeared to be a syringe toward Omar’s direction. The substance reportedly had a strong, vinegar-like odor, according to journalists at the scene.
Security personnel and bystanders quickly tackled and restrained the man, identified by police as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak. He was immediately arrested and booked into Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault, Minneapolis police said. Forensic scientists were called to process the scene.
Despite the unsettling moment, Omar was not injured and chose to continue the town hall after a brief pause. She later posted on the social platform X that she was “okay” and vowed not to be intimidated. “I’m a survivor, so this small agitator isn’t going to stop me from doing my work,” she wrote.
The crowd of roughly 100 people reportedly applauded security’s swift response. Some local officials present said small amounts of the substance made contact with others in the room, though no one else suffered noticeable reactions.
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The attack drew swift condemnation from leaders on both sides of the political spectrum. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said violence and intimidation “have no place” in civic life and stressed that public disagreements must remain peaceful.
The episode comes amid heightened political polarization and an increase in threats against public officials nationwide. U.S. Capitol Police reported a sharp rise in threat assessments for lawmakers in recent years, reflecting broader concerns about the safety of elected representatives.