During a Minneapolis town hall, Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with a foul-smelling, ammonia-like liquid by an attendee who was immediately subdued by security and arrested for third-degree assault. Omar, who was criticizing ICE and calling for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's resignation, was uninjured and resumed speaking after a brief pause. Witnesses reported minor throat irritation, and police collected forensic evidence at the scene. The attack comes amid a larger uptick in threats against lawmakers, with U.S. Capitol Police reporting a near 58% rise in threat assessments in 2025.
Rep. Ilhan Omar Sprayed With Ammonia-Like Liquid at Minneapolis Town Hall; Attacker Arrested
A man shouts at U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after spraying her, during a town hall meeting days after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 27, 2026, in a still image from video. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 27 (Reuters) - Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar was sprayed with a foul-smelling liquid during a Minneapolis town hall on Tuesday, an incident that led to the arrest of an attendee on a charge of third-degree assault.
What Happened
Omar was speaking about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and condemning the actions of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem when a man seated near the front stood up, moved toward the stage and sprayed her with the contents of what police later described as a syringe. A security guard immediately seized the man and forced him to the ground; witnesses and video of the event confirm the swift intervention.
A security person holds back U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after a man disrupted a town hall meeting, days after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 27, 2026, in a still image from video. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona
Health And Investigation
Omar was not physically injured and resumed her remarks after a short pause, declining offers of medical attention and saying she only needed a napkin. Her office later issued a statement saying she was OK. Minneapolis police said forensic teams were collecting evidence at the scene.
A Reuters witness described the liquid as smelling of ammonia and said it caused minor throat irritation for some attendees. Authorities booked the suspect on a third-degree assault charge.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks during a town hall meeting, days after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 27, 2026. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona
Context And Reaction
The attack came while Omar was calling for the abolition of ICE and urging the resignation or impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem following recent shootings in Minneapolis that resulted in two deaths amid an immigration enforcement surge. "ICE cannot be reformed, it cannot be rehabilitated, we must abolish ICE for good, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment," Omar told the crowd.
Omar has been a frequent target of criticism from former President Donald Trump, who has made personal and political attacks against her in public remarks and on social media. At a December cabinet meeting, Trump said, "Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage." Omar, who emigrated to the United States at age 12 and became a U.S. citizen in 2000, responded to the incident by telling the audience: "I learned at a young age, you don't give in to threats. You look them in the face and you stand strong."
A man shouts at U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after spraying her, during a town hall meeting days after a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 27, 2026 in a still image from video. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona
Broader Security Trend
The incident occurred amid a broader rise in threats against lawmakers. U.S. Capitol Police said its threat-assessment caseload rose nearly 58% in 2025 compared with 2024, investigating 14,938 instances of threatening statements, behavior and communications directed at members of Congress, their families, staff and the Capitol complex, up from 9,474 in 2024.
Minneapolis police and forensic teams continue to investigate the attack, and prosecutors will determine any further charges as evidence is reviewed.
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