U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed in the chest with an unknown liquid during a town hall event Tuesday night in Minneapolis after a man rushed the podium while she was speaking. Video of the incident shows the man extending a syringe-like object and projecting liquid directly toward Omar before he was tackled to the ground by security following a brief struggle.
Minneapolis police identified the suspect as Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, who was taken into custody at the scene and later booked into the Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault. Police said officers assigned to the event observed the man use a syringe to spray an unknown substance at the congresswoman. One of Omar’s staff members could be heard on video stating the substance “smelled so bad” and that Omar needed to be medically checked.
Despite being visibly startled, Omar was not immediately injured and chose to continue the town hall after the suspect was removed. “We will continue,” she told the crowd, adding that she would not allow the disruption to end the event. Her office later confirmed she was okay.
U.S. Capitol Police condemned the incident, calling it an unacceptable assault on a member of Congress, and said it is working with federal partners to pursue the most serious charges possible as threats against lawmakers continue to rise nationwide.
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- Josh
News@NewMediaDetroit.com