Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid by a man during a town hall event on Tuesday, but she refused to leave immediately and continued speaking, emphasizing her determination not to be intimidated.
The suspect, identified by police as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, was apprehended on the spot and booked into Hennepin County Jail for third-degree assault. Authorities confirmed Omar was not injured.
According to witnesses, the incident occurred while Omar, a Democrat, was discussing the abolishment of ICE and criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Kazmierczak, who was sitting in the front row, rushed toward Omar and sprayed her with a substance using a syringe while shouting. Security quickly restrained him and removed him from the room in handcuffs.
Omar responded to the attack by stating, “We will continue. These fing aholes are not going to get away with it!”* She added, “We are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us,” before continuing her town hall for nearly 30 minutes.
The U.S. Capitol Police condemned the attack, saying they are working with federal partners to ensure Kazmierczak faces the most serious charges possible. Omar later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she was unharmed and reaffirmed her resolve: “I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win.”
This attack comes amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection agents, which sparked protests. It also follows a broader trend of increasing threats against members of Congress, with nearly 15,000 threats investigated in 2025, up from 9,474 in 2024.
Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress, has frequently discussed receiving death threats, many of which include racist or Islamophobic language.
Kazmierczak’s legal representation and further details on the substance used have not been disclosed.