Ilhan Omar Attacked With Syringe At Minneapolis Town Hall

On the evening of January 27, 2026, what began as an ordinary town hall in North Minneapolis quickly turned into a scene of chaos and alarm. Representative Ilhan Omar, a prominent figure in Congress and a vocal critic of federal immigration enforcement, was suddenly attacked by a man wielding a syringe filled with an unknown liquid. According to Minneapolis police and multiple eyewitnesses, the man—later identified as 55-year-old Anthony James Kazmierczak—charged the podium where Omar was speaking, spraying her with the substance before being tackled to the ground by security.

Despite the shock and confusion in the room, Omar stood her ground. As audience members gasped and security subdued the assailant, she declared, “I'm going to finish my remarks. It is important for me to continue,” punctuating her resolve with a profanity. “We will continue. These f------ a------- are not going to get away with it!” she added, according to ABC News. The congresswoman’s determination to carry on in the face of danger drew applause from supporters and respect from onlookers. One attendee, Alfred Flowers Jr., told the BBC that he "respected her courage and strength to still stay and finish the town hall for the people."

The incident unfolded just moments after Omar called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the resignation of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated; we must abolish ICE for good. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment,” Omar said, as reported by Reuters. Seconds later, Kazmierczak rushed the podium, reportedly shouting, “You must resign,” before spraying Omar with a dark-colored liquid that, according to a BBC journalist in the room, had a sour, chemical-like smell.

The attack, captured on C-SPAN video, left the audience in shock. “Oh my God, he sprayed something on her,” an audience member exclaimed as others called for calm. Security wrestled Kazmierczak to the ground and Minneapolis police, who were already present at the event, quickly took him into custody. He has since been charged with third-degree assault and is being held in Hennepin County Jail, as confirmed by local law enforcement and the sheriff’s office.

Omar, who was not injured in the attack, addressed the shaken crowd after regaining her composure. “Here’s the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand: We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us,” she told her supporters, according to AFP. She later posted on X (formerly Twitter): “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.”

The town hall was attended by about 100 people, many of whom had gathered to discuss concerns over the recent surge in federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. The city has been rocked by the deaths of two U.S. citizens—Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti—both killed in separate incidents involving federal agents earlier in January. The increased presence of ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents, part of what has been dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” has sparked protests and heightened tensions between local officials and the Trump administration.

Omar, a Somali American and former refugee, has long been a lightning rod for criticism from conservative circles, particularly for her progressive stances on immigration and her outspoken opposition to U.S. policy in Gaza. President Donald Trump, who has targeted Omar with harsh rhetoric for years, was quick to weigh in on the attack. In a phone interview with ABC News, Trump accused Omar—without evidence—of staging the incident. “I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,” he said. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.” Trump’s comments echoed his previous statements about Omar, including calling her a “fake sleazebag,” “radical left lunatic,” and even suggesting she should be “sent back to Somalia.”

The attack on Omar drew swift condemnation from across the political spectrum. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey posted on social media, “Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.” Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, despite her strong disagreements with Omar’s views, wrote, “I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today. Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric—and I do—no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”

The U.S. Capitol Police also released a statement, declaring, “Tonight, a man is in custody after he decided to assault a Member of Congress—an unacceptable decision that will be met with swift justice.” The department emphasized that it is “working with our federal partners to see this man faces the most serious charges possible to deter this kind of violence in our society.”

The attack comes amid a troubling rise in threats against members of Congress. According to Capitol Police, the number of concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed at lawmakers, their families, and staff increased for the third consecutive year, reaching 14,938 incidents in the previous year—up from 9,474 in 2024. This spike reflects growing polarization and the increasingly hostile environment faced by public officials nationwide.

Omar’s resilience in the face of this latest threat is emblematic of her tenure in Congress. First elected in 2018 as one of the first two Muslim American women in the House and the first Somali-American, she has become a symbol of both hope and controversy in American politics. Now in her third term representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, Omar serves as deputy chair of the Progressive Caucus, advocating for policies such as universal healthcare, debt-free university education, and comprehensive immigration reform.

As forensic teams continue to analyze the substance used in the attack, questions remain about the motivations behind Kazmierczak’s actions and the broader implications for political discourse and safety in the United States. But for many in Minneapolis and beyond, the message from Omar and her supporters is clear: attempts to silence voices through violence will not succeed. As she told her constituents in the aftermath, “Please don’t let them have the show. We’re gonna keep talking. Just give me ten minutes.”

The events of January 27 serve as a stark reminder of the volatility facing American democracy and the resolve of those determined to speak out, no matter the risks.