A man sprays Rep. Ilhan Omar with substance during a public town hall event in Minneapolis, prompting an immediate apprehension. The man has been taken into custody, and has not been identified as of right now.
The suspect, identified in the Hennepin County Jail roster as Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault. He has not yet been formally charged.
The incident occurred moments after Omar had called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be abolished and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment. According to witnesses and police, the man walked down the middle of the room and sprayed a liquid toward Omar while appearing to shout, “You must resign.”
WATCH: A man sprayed liquid on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a town hall event in Minneapolis.pic.twitter.com/538T9UuUH9
— Resist Times (World) (@ResistWireWorld) January 28, 2026
A security guard quickly tackled him to the ground. Someone in the room was heard saying, “Oh, my God, he sprayed something on her,” and noted that the substance had a foul odor.
Local leaders who had spoken earlier at the event urged Omar to leave the room and seek medical attention, but she declined, saying, “That is what they want.” She continued speaking after the man was removed.
Minneapolis police said officers observed the man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid onto Omar. He was arrested at the scene and booked into the Hennepin County Jail. Forensic scientists responded to examine the substance.
Police said Omar was not injured and resumed speaking at the event. Her office later confirmed on social media that she was “okay” and continued the town hall because she “doesn’t let bullies win.”
U.S. Capitol Police said the suspect made “an unacceptable decision that will be met with swift justice” and stated that federal partners are working to pursue the most serious charges possible.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Omar said, “I survived war, and I’m definitely going to survive intimidation and whatever these people think that they can throw at me.”
Omar has frequently been targeted by President Donald Trump. Earlier Tuesday, Trump referenced her at a rally in Iowa, criticizing immigrants and saying they must “show that they can love our country; they have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar.” On Monday, Trump said the Justice Department and Congress were “looking at” Omar. The White House did not immediately comment on the town hall incident.
Omar immigrated to the United States at age 12 after fleeing Somalia’s civil war and has spoken about her “unwavering love for America.” She recently posted on social media that Trump’s focus on her was “beyond weird.”
Kazmierczak’s criminal record dates back to 1989, when he pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was ordered to pay $551. Court records show several traffic-related misdemeanor offenses in Minnesota. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and was convicted again the following year for driving under the influence.
Divorce records from 2017 indicate he was unemployed at the time and receiving disability insurance benefits of nearly $40,000. He has been married and divorced twice.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the attack. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said no elected official should face physical attacks. Other members of Congress described the incident as unacceptable and disturbing. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it political violence that is “never acceptable,” and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as a despicable act of intimidation.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis and follows several recent high-profile cases of political violence across the United States. U.S. Capitol Police reported Tuesday that they investigated 14,938 concerning threats directed at members of Congress, their families and staff last year, marking a third consecutive annual increase.
The investigation into Tuesday’s incident remains ongoing.
