Ilhan Omar sprayed with unknown substance by man during Minneapolis town hall

This story has been updated with additional information about the man who sprayed at Ilhan Omar during the town hall.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Representative Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance by a man who rushed toward her during a town hall event in Minneapolis, triggering panic among attendees and prompting a swift response from security on Tuesday, January 27.

Despite the disruption, Omar insisted on continuing the event and returned to the podium moments later, drawing applause from the crowd as she resumed addressing constituents.

Suspect detained after substance attack

Witnesses said a man suddenly charged toward Ilhan Omar during the public gathering and appeared to spray her with an unidentified liquid before being restrained. Members of the audience shouted that he had “sprayed her,” as security moved in to remove the individual from the venue.

“This a*****e cannot get away with it,” Omar was heard saying as the crowd reacted in shock.

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar decided to carry on with her town hall meeting after a man rushed her podium and sprayed an unknown substance, saying she refuses to “let bullies win,” according to a statement from her office.

“During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe,” the statement said. “Security and the Minneapolis Police Department quickly apprehended the individual. He is now in custody. The Congresswoman is okay.”

Omar was not injured in the incident, CNN affiliate KARE reported, citing a police incident report. The suspect was charged with third-degree assault and booked into Hennepin County Jail, the report added.

Ilhan Omar demands Kristi Noem's resignation 

During the town hall, Omar renewed calls for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s resignation and impeachment, linking rising political tensions to what she described as an increasingly dangerous environment for elected officials.

She warned that violent rhetoric and a lack of accountability were fueling real-world attacks, urging leaders to take responsibility for de-escalating hostility.

The confrontation comes amid heightened tensions in Minnesota following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents, events that have sparked widespread protests and intensified criticism of federal immigration tactics.

Trump weighs in on Alex Pretti's shooting

President Donald Trump recently addressed the fatalities in an interview with Fox News host Will Cain, calling both deaths “very unfortunate” while criticizing Alex Pretti for being armed at the time of the incident.

Trump rejected the description of Pretti as an “assassin,” a term used by his deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, responding simply, “No,” when asked if he agreed with that label. However, Trump stressed that people should not attend protests while armed. 

“That being said, you can’t have guns, you can’t walk in with guns, you can’t do that, but it’s a very unfortunate incident,” Trump said, referring to Pretti, a licensed gun owner whose firearm was reportedly taken from him before he was shot.

The shootings sparked widespread protests across Minneapolis, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement and demanding accountability.