A man sprayed an unknown substance on US Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday. The incident happened while Omar was criticising federal immigration policies. A video of the attack later surfaced on social media.
The Minnesota Democrat was not injured and chose to continue the event despite the disruption. Police confirmed that the man sprayed a liquid substance before bystanders and security stepped in to restrain him.
Attack Happens During Immigration Remarks
The attack took place as Omar was calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be impeached. Witnesses said the man rushed toward her, spoke briefly, and then sprayed the substance at her torso.
It remains unclear what the man said or what liquid he used. According to a Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson, the suspect used a “syringe to spray an unknown liquid” on Omar.
Bystanders Intervene Quickly
People in the audience reacted immediately and tackled the man before he could cause further harm. Security personnel then restrained him as police moved in.
Despite concerns from those around her, Omar refused to stop the meeting and asked only for a napkin.
“Please don’t let them have the show,” she said. “We will continue… They are not going to get away with this.”
ILLHAN OMAR gets sprayed…
— 🇺🇸🍩 JULIE DONUTS 🇺🇸🍩 (@Juliedonuts) January 28, 2026
Hopefully it was holy water to cleanse the demon out of her. 👺 pic.twitter.com/h2hIoMRs2P
Audience Raises Safety Concerns
Several attendees urged Omar to seek medical attention, warning that the substance smelled strong.
“Whatever it is smells so bad, she needs to go get checked,” one woman said. “It’s about your safety, you need to go get checked. It smells terrible.”
However, Omar remained calm and continued addressing the audience.
Police Arrest Suspect, Investigation Ongoing
Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson Trevor Folke confirmed that Omar was unharmed. Officers arrested the suspect at the scene and took him to the Hennepin County Jail on assault charges.
City forensic teams arrived to examine the scene and collect evidence. Authorities said they are still investigating the substance and the motive behind the attack.
Omar Repeats Call for Accountability
As security escorted the suspect out of the room, Omar continued her remarks and repeated her demand for action against the Homeland Security secretary.
“It is important for me to continue to lead my Democratic colleague in demanding her resignation,” she said. “If she does not resign, we’re going to introduce articles of impeachment.”
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of elected officials during public events, even as Omar chose to carry on with her work without interruption.