Rep. Ilhan Omar Sprayed With Unidentified Liquid at Minneapolis Town Hall

By Michael Katz | Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 10:21 PM EST

A man sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., with an unidentified liquid during a town hall she was holding in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

In video footage of the incident, Omar was speaking about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stating that she “must resign or face impeachment,” when a man seated in the front row approached the lectern and sprayed a liquid from what appeared to be a syringe, striking Omar in the chest.

Security personnel quickly apprehended the suspect, tackling and handcuffing him before removing him from the room. The suspect was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of assault, according to a Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson who did not provide his name. A police forensics team was called to analyze the scene.

Someone in the audience asked Omar, “What did he spray on you?” Omar insisted on continuing the town hall, which took place amid ongoing protests in Minneapolis over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. She stated, “We will continue… These [expletives] are not going to get away with it!”

Another attendee remarked that whatever was sprayed “smells so bad,” describing the odor as vinegary. The person urged Omar to seek medical attention, saying, “She needs to go get checked. I don’t know what that was. It’s not about him, Ilhan, it’s about your safety.”

After the incident, Omar returned to the lectern and pleaded with security to allow her to continue. She said, “Just give me 10 minutes. Please. I beg you. Please don’t let them have the show.”

Omar later posted on X that she was not injured: “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. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the attack, calling it “unacceptable” in a post on X. “Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis,” Frey wrote. “We can disagree without putting people at risk. I’m relieved Rep. @IlhanOmar is OK and appreciate MPD for responding quickly. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”