A man accused of attacking Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday has been arrested and charged with third-degree assault, according to ABC News.
Minneapolis police identified the suspect as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak. Officers at the event reported seeing Kazmierczak use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid toward Omar as she spoke. An Associated Press reporter who witnessed the incident said the substance had a strong vinegar-like smell, and photos from the scene showed a syringe containing a light-brown liquid.
Omar was not injured in the incident. Speaking afterward, she emphasized her resilience, saying she has “survived war” and would not be intimidated. In a post on X, she added, “I don’t let bullies win.”
The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed the arrest in a statement, calling the assault on a member of Congress “unacceptable” and saying it would be met with swift justice.
President Trump also commented on the incident, telling ABC News that he had not seen video of the attack. He criticized Omar and questioned the circumstances of the incident during his remarks.