Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked with a syringe containing an unknown liquid during a town hall event Tuesday, Minneapolis police confirmed.
The assailant sprayed the substance at Omar while she was speaking to approximately 100 attendees in a north Minneapolis basement.
Omar was not injured and continued the event. “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 wrote on X following the incident.
The liquid’s composition remains unidentified by authorities. A BBC journalist present at the scene reported it had a sour smell resembling a chemical product.
Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, faces third-degree assault charges and is in custody, according to the local sheriff’s office.
Omar, a Democrat, has been a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump and his immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. Two U.S. citizens have been fatally shot during these operations. The attack occurred after Omar called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and stated that Trump ally Kristi Noem—whose Department of Homeland Security oversees ICE—should “resign or face impeachment” over recent events in Minnesota.
In January, immigration officer fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Good. On Saturday, U.S. citizen Alex Pretti was killed after being stopped by border agents, triggering local protests and national outcry.
As he was removed from the venue, Kazmierczak said Omar was “pitting us against each other.” The meaning of his statement was unclear.
Officials urged Omar to end the event, but she refused. “We will continue… we are Minnesota strong,” she told attendees. Returning to the lectern, she added: “We’re gonna keep talking. Just give me ten minutes. Please don’t let them have the show. Please don’t let them have the show.”
Alfred Flowers Jr, an attendee, told the BBC: “I respected her courage and strength to still stay and finish the town hall for the people.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey responded on social media: “Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk… This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in our city.”
Police arrested Kazmierczak immediately and conducted forensic analysis at the scene.
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Omar made history in 2019 as the first Somali-American, first African-born American, and one of the first two Muslim American women elected to Congress.
Trump has repeatedly targeted Omar personally. Prior to Tuesday’s attack, he told an Iowa audience that immigrants to the U.S. “have to show that they can love our country, be proud – not like Ilhan Omar.” He has called her a “radical left lunatic” and “disgusting.”
Earlier this month, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Omar “should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump’s Minneapolis immigration crackdown began in December following convictions of some Somali immigrants in a major state welfare fraud case. Minnesota has the largest Somali immigrant community in the U.S. Local residents have suggested the operation may be connected to Trump’s antagonism toward the state’s Democratic officials, particularly Omar.
On Tuesday, responding to the second fatal shooting, Trump said his administration was “going to de-escalate a little bit”.
The town hall had been organized for residents to hear about federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and ask questions about the recent fatal shootings.