On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked while speaking at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A man rushed the stage and sprayed an unknown liquid at her from a syringe.
Ilhan Omar Was Attacked, Sprayed With Liquid
The event was meant to be a chance for local people to hear from their congresswoman and ask questions. Instead, it turned into a dangerous moment that shocked many in the room.
The man who sprayed the liquid was quickly tackled by security and then arrested by police. He now faces charges of third-degree assault. Police say officers at the event saw the man use the syringe before he was taken into custody.
No one in the crowd seemed to get sick from the liquid, and investigators are still trying to learn what it was.
After the attack, Representative Omar paused briefly but then chose to continue her remarks. She told the audience she was okay and would not let fear stop her from doing her work.
“We will stay strong,” Omar said, showing she was determined not to be intimidated by the act of violence.
Minneapolis Town Hall
This town hall took place during a period of high political tension in Minnesota. Federal immigration agents have been carrying out mass deportation operations in the state that resulted in two fatal shootings of protesters just days before this attack. The deaths sparked protests that are still ongoing.
Earlier in her speech, Omar had criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and urged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment. She has said the agency cannot be reformed and must be abolished.
Just moments after she made those comments, the man approached and sprayed her with the liquid.
Attacker Has Been Arrested
Witnesses at the scene described a moment of shock as the man lunges toward Omar and sprayed the substance. People nearby reacted with concern, and the crowd began shouting as security guards held the man down and led him away.
Despite the frightening moment, no major injuries were reported, and Omar’s office later confirmed she was unharmed.
Local and national leaders reacted quickly to the attack. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called it “unacceptable” and said violence has no place in public meetings where people should be able to speak and listen freely.
Governor Tim Walz and other officials also condemned the assault, stressing that disagreement should never turn into political violence.
Some political leaders from outside Minnesota also spoke out. A Republican congresswoman said she was disturbed by the attack and said that even when people strongly disagree with another politician’s views, no one should face physical violence.
Political Violence
The attack on Omar comes amid a broader trend of threats and violent incidents against elected officials in the United States. According to law enforcement data, threats against members of Congress and their staff have increased significantly in recent years. This rise has prompted calls from many leaders for reducing hateful political rhetoric.
President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized Representative Omar, responded to the incident by questioning whether the attack was real.
He suggested without evidence that it may have been staged, a claim that was widely rejected by many other officials and media outlets.
Representative Omar is one of the most prominent Muslim women in U.S. political history. She fled civil war in Somalia as a child and later became a U.S. citizen and a member of the House of Representatives.
Her background and outspoken views have made her both a powerful voice for many and a target of attack by opponents.
While this attack did not physically hurt Omar, it has raised important questions about safety at public events, the tone of political debate in the country, and how leaders on all sides talk about their opponents.
Community members, officials, and lawmakers are now calling for more respectful discourse so that public meetings can be safe spaces for everyone to share their views without fear of violence.
