Somalia-born US Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked with an “unknown liquid” during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday (US time). The agitator who used a syringe to spray the unspecified substance on the Democratic politician was immediately tackled to the ground. Police have since identified the man as 55-year-old Anthony James Kazmierczak, as per the Associated Press and BBC.

Officials have yet to determine what the substance was.

Anthony Kazmierczak: Ilhan Omar’s town hall attacker identified

The unprecedented disruption occurred during a town hall Omar was hosting. Kazmierczak sprung up from the audience as the US representative was speaking out against the immigration crackdown operation federal authorities, especially the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officers, have been leading in the city under the Donald Trump administration’s orders.

Following the incident, the local sheriff’s office said Anthony James Kazmierczak has been charged with third degree assault and is being held in custody, the BBC reported.

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As per multiple reports describing what happened at the scene, the liquid sprayed on Omar had a sour vinegar-like smell. Videos and photos of the 55-year-old being tackled to the ground have since surfaced on social media platforms, including X.

Minneapolis Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw said some of the “unknown substance” also came into contact with her and state Senator Bobby Joe Champion, as per the AP.

Minnesota Rep Ilhan Omar responds

Omar subsequently issued a statement via her official X account, indicating that she didn’t have any reaction to the substance that was sprayed on her.

The Minnesota politician who has repeatedly come in the crosshairs with the far-right, wrote on X, “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. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

Just moments before the attack, Omar said, “ICE cannot be reformed.” She also called for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be abolished and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment just before the incident.

After the attack, she paused for a short while before resuming. Omar continued to speak for about 25 minutes once the man was ushered out by security.

Trump vs Minneapolis

The Somali community has particularly come under Trump’s scrutiny, with the Minneapolis-St Paul area being home to about 84,000 people of Somali descent. As per the AP, this makes up for nearly a third of Somalis living in America.

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Omar’s town hall made headlines as Minneapolis continues to reel from multiple reports of shootings at the hands of federal authorities. Two of these particularly involved fatal tragedies: ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent just weeks after Renee Good was fatally shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross.

In the recent past, US President Donald Trump has also ramped up his verbal attacks on the congresswoman, even referring to her as “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting in December.

Hours before the attack on her, Trump criticised Omar while speaking at an event in Iowa. The MAGA leader said his government would let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country,” adding, “They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar.”

Trump went on to say, “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”

Ilhan Omar is an American citizen. She fled Somalia, her birthplace, with her family at the young age of 8 as a civil war wreaked havoc on the country.