The assailant, dressed in a black jacket, approached Omar with a syringe and discharged its contents on her. The nature of the substance remains unknown. Sharon Yoo from KING 5, who was present at the scene, reported that the man was promptly detained and later arrested by Minneapolis police. He is currently held at the Hennepin County Jail, facing charges of third-degree assault, although formal charges have yet to be filed.

Video footage captured the crowd’s reaction as the man was subdued, with attendees cheering as his hands were restrained. A voice from the audience is heard exclaiming, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.” Despite the disturbance and a strong vinegar-like odor emanating from the substance, Rep. Omar continued with the event, asserting she wouldn’t be intimidated by the attack.

After the town hall concluded, Omar briefly addressed the incident, expressing that she felt somewhat shaken but unharmed. She indicated plans to undergo medical evaluation as a precautionary measure.

Walking out afterward, Omar said she felt a little flustered but was not hurt. She was going to be screened by a medical team.

Omar was holding the town hall in the wake of the recent shooting involving federal immigration officials in the city. 

The congresswoman’s office issued a statement following the incident. 

“During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe,” Omar’s office said in a statement shared on X Tuesday. “Security and the Minneapolis Police Department quickly apprehended the individual. He is now in custody. The Congresswoman is okay. She continued with her town hall because she doesn’t let bullies win.”

The Minnesota congresswoman said she was “ok” in a statement shared on X.

“I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.  I don’t let bullies win.  Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong,” Omar said.

Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”

“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.

He added, “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”

Omar was holding the town hall in the wake of the recent shooting involving federal immigration officials in the city. 

Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, R-S.C., denounced the assault on Omar.

“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via the social platform X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.”

He added that he was relieved that Omar “is OK” and thanked police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”

The attack came days after a man was arrested in Utah for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of that year’s Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before dipping slightly only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats bring on their 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 particular concern, long targeted with harsh language and personal attacks by Trump and other Republicans.