Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Unshaken After Syringe Attack During Town Hall

Tue Feb 03 2026 17:08:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a town hall event, Minnesota's Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked with a syringe, yet she remained defiant, stating, 'I don't let bullies win.' The incident has drawn wider attention to her ongoing political battles and the safety of lawmakers.

Representative Ilhan Omar faced a shocking attack at her town hall meeting when an audience member sprayed her with liquid from a syringe. Despite the assault, Omar continued her speech, asserting her resilience and commitment to representing her constituents. The attacker has been arrested and charged with assault, sparking a conversation about the challenges lawmakers face in the current political climate.

Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked at an event she was hosting on Tuesday, when an audience member used a syringe to spray liquid at her, Minneapolis police said.

Omar was uninjured and continued to speak. 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, she later wrote on X.

Authorities have not yet identified what the liquid was. According to a BBC journalist in the room, it had a sour smell similar to a chemical product.

Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, has been charged with third-degree assault and is being held in custody, the local sheriff's office said.

Omar, a Democrat who became in 2019 the first Somali-American to serve in the US Congress, is a fierce critic of US President Donald Trump.

She has recently targeted the president's immigration crackdown in Minnesota, during which two US citizens have been shot dead.

During her speaking event, Omar called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is one of the main agencies tasked with carrying out immigration enforcement and has come under intense scrutiny for its tactics.

Omar's attack comes amid increased tensions, with Trump frequently clashing with Minnesota's Democratic officials and targeting Omar with personal attacks.

In a post on social media, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the incident, stating, Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk... This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in our city.

Despite the assault, Omar emphasized her commitment to continue engaging with her constituents, demonstrating both courage and resilience in the face of adversity.