Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Targeted in Assault During Event

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Minnesota: Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked with an unknown liquid during a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday after an audience member used a syringe to spray the substance at her, police said.

Omar was not injured and continued speaking following the incident. “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win,” she later wrote on X.

According to witnesses, the liquid had a sour smell similar to a chemical product. Video from the scene showed security removing the suspect from the room as staff shouted for attendees to clear a path.

The suspect, Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, was arrested at the scene and charged with third-degree assault. He remains in custody while forensic tests are conducted on the substance, police said.

After the attack, Omar told the crowd of about 100 people that the town hall would continue, saying, “We are Minnesota strong.” She later urged attendees not to allow the disruption to derail the discussion.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the incident, stating that “violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis” and stressing that disagreements must not put people at risk.

The event was one of Omar’s regular town halls and was focused on immigration enforcement following recent fatal shootings involving U.S. citizens and immigration officials. During the event, Omar called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and criticised Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Omar, first elected to Congress in 2018, is the first Somali-American, first African-born American, and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the U.S. Congress. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali immigrant population in the country.