What is the story about?
A man sprayed US Representative Ilhan Omar with an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday before being tackled and restrained by bystanders and security. A video of the incident surfaced on social media.
The Minnesota Democrat was unharmed and continued with the event after the disruption, which occurred as she criticised federal immigration policies. Police confirmed the substance was sprayed and the suspect was subdued, but details on charges or the nature of the liquid have not been released.
The man rushed the congresswoman while she was calling for ICE to be abolished and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be impeached. He spoke to Omar as he sprayed the material at her torso, though it remains unclear what he said or what he sprayed.
Bystanders immediately tackled the man. According to a Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson, the man used a “syringe to spray an unknown liquid” onto Omar.
Omar said she would carry on with the session as people nearby urged her to stop and get medical attention.
“Please don’t let them have the show,” said Omar, asking for a napkin. “We will continue… They are not going to get away with this.”
People close to the House member called for her to end the session and seek medical care.
“Whatever it is smells so bad, she needs to go get checked,” one woman said. “It’s about your safety, you need to go get checked. It smells terrible.”
The US representative was not hurt, according to police department spokesperson Trevor Folke. Officers arrested the man at the event, and he was taken to the Hennepin County Jail on assault charges, Folke said,
City forensic scientists responded to the incident to process the scene, police said.
As security led the man out of the room, Omar continued calling for Noem to be held accountable.
“It is important for me to continue to lead my Democratic colleague in demanding her resignation,” she said. “If she does not resign, we’re going to introduce articles of impeachment.”
The Minnesota Democrat was unharmed and continued with the event after the disruption, which occurred as she criticised federal immigration policies. Police confirmed the substance was sprayed and the suspect was subdued, but details on charges or the nature of the liquid have not been released.
The man rushed the congresswoman while she was calling for ICE to be abolished and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be impeached. He spoke to Omar as he sprayed the material at her torso, though it remains unclear what he said or what he sprayed.
Bystanders immediately tackled the man. According to a Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson, the man used a “syringe to spray an unknown liquid” onto Omar.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) gets sprayed with a liquid substance while she’s speaking.
She’s a fraud so it’s completely plausible that she orchestrated this.
Deport Ilhan.pic.twitter.com/wBZmb3NH1E
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 28, 2026
Omar continues meeting
Omar said she would carry on with the session as people nearby urged her to stop and get medical attention.
“Please don’t let them have the show,” said Omar, asking for a napkin. “We will continue… They are not going to get away with this.”
People close to the House member called for her to end the session and seek medical care.
“Whatever it is smells so bad, she needs to go get checked,” one woman said. “It’s about your safety, you need to go get checked. It smells terrible.”
Police action and investigation
The US representative was not hurt, according to police department spokesperson Trevor Folke. Officers arrested the man at the event, and he was taken to the Hennepin County Jail on assault charges, Folke said,
City forensic scientists responded to the incident to process the scene, police said.
As security led the man out of the room, Omar continued calling for Noem to be held accountable.
“It is important for me to continue to lead my Democratic colleague in demanding her resignation,” she said. “If she does not resign, we’re going to introduce articles of impeachment.”
