US Representative for Minnesota Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis.
According to Al Jazeera, the congresswoman was calling to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, January 27, when a man rushed towards her and threw an unknown liquid on her.
In the videos widely shared on social media, Omar can be seen speaking at the podium, saying, “ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated; we must abolish ICE for good. And DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.”
When a man is seen walking toward them with a syringe with dark-coloured liquid. The attacker told Omar, “You must resign,” as he sprayed her.
The assailant was immediately taken into custody by the authorities on third-degree assault charges.
The incident sparked chaos in the hall, and the authorities continuously insisted Omar leave the meeting for a medical check-up, as the liquid smelt “terrible”. She assured everyone that she was “good” and continued her speech.
She told the cheering supporters, “Here’s the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand: We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
The 43-year-old later on social media provided her health update and said that she was OK and the “small agitator” will not intimidate her from “doing my work.”
Omar, who made history in 2018 as one of the first two Muslims to be elected to US Congress, is currently representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District after getting elected for a third term.
