The man was immediately tackled by security guards and escorted out of the venue as Omar continued her speech. Minneapolis police later took the suspect into custody, Omar’s office said.
The incident occurred shortly after Omar criticised the Trump administration’s immigration policies and called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “ICE cannot be reformed; it cannot be rehabilitated. We must abolish ICE for good,” she said, drawing applause from the audience. She also said that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign or face impeachment.
Witnesses said the man sprang up from the front row, made a brief remark and then sprayed the congresswoman, prompting security to intervene. Omar raised her fist and briefly stepped toward the attacker before returning to the podium.
Despite concerns raised by members of her team, Omar resumed speaking moments later. “We are Minnesota strong. And we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw on us,” she told the crowd.
The town hall took place amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis following a recent anti-immigration crackdown that has drawn thousands of ICE agents to the city and sparked unrest.
Earlier on Tuesday, former president Donald Trump criticised Omar during a speech in Iowa, making remarks about her Somali background. Trump has ordered numerous strikes against Somalia during his second term and has reduced diplomatic engagement, including the suspension of humanitarian aid, according to the US think tank New America.
