Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar and is tackled at Minneapolis town hall
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar with an unknown substance and she fell to the ground Tuesday at a town hall in Minneapolis, where tensions were taking place over federal immigration enforcement. We came to a point after the agents were fatally shot. intensive care nurse and a mother of three children this month.
The audience applauded as the man wearing a black jacket and holding a syringe was laid on the ground and his arms were tied behind his back. In the video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my God, he sprayed something on you.”
Just before that, Omar had called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“ICE cannot be reformed,” he said.
Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray Omar with an unknown liquid. They immediately arrested him and booked him into the county jail on a charge of third-degree assault, spokesman Trevor Folke said in an email. Police also said forensic scientists responded to the scene.
Omar continued to the town hall after the man was escorted from the room by his security team, saying he would not be intimidated. Reporters said that when the man squeezed the syringe, a strong, vinegar-like odor emerged.
Omar, who came out later, said that he was a little worried but that he was not hurt. He would be examined by the medical team.
He later posted on social platform
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.
President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congressman and has stepped up his verbal attacks on him in recent months, turning his attention to Minneapolis.
He called her “rubbish” at a Cabinet meeting in December and added that “her friends are rubbish”.
Hours earlier Tuesday, the president criticized Omar while speaking to a crowd in Iowa and said his administration would only allow in immigrants who can “show they love our country.”
“He’s not like Ilhan Omar, they should be proud,” he said, and was booed loudly when his name was mentioned.
He added: “He comes from a country that’s a disaster. So it’s probably not even a country.”
U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, condemned the attack on Omar.
Mace said, via
Democrat Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also condemned the attack on X and said: “It is unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We cannot agree without putting people at risk.”
He added that he was relieved that Omar was “okay” and thanked the police for their quick intervention, concluding: “Such behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”
The attack came days after a man was killed. arrested in Utah He allegedly punched U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and said Trump would deport him.
Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years; It peaked in 2021 and following the attack on the Capitol on January 6 of that year, then declined slightly and climbed again. US Capitol Police.
Lawmakers discussed the chill brought on by threats’ ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decisions not to seek reelection.
Omar has faced the most specific concern from Trump and other Republicans, who have long been targeted with harsh language and personal attacks.
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Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.
