BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Ilhan Omar Attacked With Unknown Substance During North Minneapolis Town Hall

MINNEAPOLIS. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked Tuesday night, Jan. 27, 2026, while hosting a packed town hall meeting in North Minneapolis. The incident briefly halted the event and underscored the volatile atmosphere surrounding public political gatherings across the country.

According to accounts from journalists and attendees, a man seated near the front of the room stood up as Omar began her opening remarks and moved toward her, spraying an unknown substance in her direction. The confrontation lasted only seconds before security personnel and members of the audience tackled the man to the ground, restraining his arms and removing him from the community center.

Reuters reported that Omar was not injured. Authorities had not publicly identified the substance involved by late Tuesday, nor had they announced whether charges would be filed against the man in custody. Law enforcement officials said the investigation remained active.

Some witnesses described the liquid being dispersed at close range, with early, unconfirmed reports raising questions about how it was deployed. Officials cautioned that those details have not been verified and emphasized that determining the nature of the substance was a priority.

Omar remained at the podium after the assailant was subdued. She asked for napkins to wipe off the spray and insisted the meeting continue. “I learned at a young age that you don’t give in to threats,” she told the crowd, drawing applause before resuming the discussion.

A charged setting

The town hall was Omar’s first of the year and focused heavily on federal immigration enforcement and recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Moments before the attack, Omar had been sharply criticizing the Department of Homeland Security, calling for the resignation or impeachment of Secretary Kristi Noem and reiterating her long standing call to abolish ICE.

The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened tension in Minneapolis and across Minnesota. In recent weeks, protests have followed fatal encounters involving federal agents, including the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Nicole Good, cases that have intensified scrutiny of federal operations and fueled public anger.

Nationally, Omar has also remained a frequent target of incendiary political rhetoric. Media outlets have noted that President Donald Trump has recently singled her out during campaign rallies. Community leaders say such language has contributed to a climate of hostility toward elected officials and immigrant communities.

Part of a broader pattern

The Minneapolis incident comes amid growing concern about the safety of public officials. Just days earlier, Rep. Maxwell Frost reported being assaulted while attending the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Congressional leaders from both parties have described a troubling rise in physical confrontations and threats directed at lawmakers.

For Omar, the attack represented another chapter in a career marked by intense scrutiny and security challenges. She has previously spoken about receiving death threats and the need for heightened protection while continuing to engage directly with constituents.

What remains unknown

As of Tuesday night, authorities had not released the identity of the man who attacked Omar or provided details about his motive. Officials also said it was too early to determine whether the substance posed any health risk to Omar or others in the room.

Despite those uncertainties, the congresswoman’s decision to continue the town hall sent a deliberate message to supporters packed into the community center.

“This is the People’s House,” one attendee said afterward. “What happened tonight won’t stop people from showing up.”

The investigation is ongoing, and officials said additional information would be released as it becomes available.

MinneapoliMedia