US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar assaulted during Minneapolis town hall meeting

US Representative Ilhan Omar was assaulted late Tuesday during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota as she addressed constituents on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and the Department of Homeland Security.

The Minnesota Democrat was speaking when an unidentified man ran toward the podium and appeared to spray her with a clear liquid.

The man was tackled and restrained by security personnel. Omar appeared shaken but was not injured.

It was not immediately clear what the man was saying as he was removed from the room or what substance he used.

The incident occurred as Omar was criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, calling for her resignation or impeachment, and discussing the abolition of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Omar's office said in a statement that security and the Minneapolis Police Department “quickly apprehended” the individual, who is now in custody.

“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,” Omar wrote on the US social media company X’s platform after the incident.

Police said the suspect was immediately arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and that Omar was not injured, while forensic teams processed the scene, according to US media reports.

The attack came hours after US President Donald Trump criticized Omar during remarks at an event in Iowa, making derogatory comments about her home country of Somalia, calling it a nation that’s a “disaster.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked Omar in recent months, calling her “garbage” during remarks targeting Somali immigrants.

Omar, who arrived in the US from Somalia as a refugee and later became a US citizen, condemned the comments at the time, accusing Trump of having a “creepy” obsession with her.