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Man Arrested After Spraying Substance at Rep. Omar

Published 28 January 2026

A man was tackled and restrained after spraying an unknown substance at U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening. The incident unfolded as Omar, a Democrat representing Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, addressed constituents on local issues including federal immigration enforcement.

Video footage captured the disruption about 30 minutes into the gathering. The man, described as bearded and wearing a black jacket, approached the podium from the front row, shouted at Omar and sprayed a liquid toward her using what witnesses and authorities described as a syringe. Bystanders quickly intervened, pinning him to the ground and tying his arms behind his back before security removed him from the room. The audience cheered as he was subdued. "Oh my god, he sprayed something on her," one attendee shouted, according to recordings of the event. Another called out, "He sprayed her!" A Minneapolis city council member present noted the substance had a strong odor and suggested Omar get checked, though she reported no injuries.

Omar, appearing startled but composed, resisted her security team's efforts to escort her offstage. "We're going to keep...

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