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dpatopbilder - Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar speaks at an event at Minneapolis City Hall. During her appearance, Omar was attacked by a man in the audience. Photo: Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP/dpa
Keystone
The prominent Democratic US representative Ilhan Omar was attacked by a man from the audience during an appearance in Minneapolis. Omar was demanding the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in light of the brutal crackdown by federal security forces in the city when the unknown assailant suddenly stood up, walked towards her and sprayed her with an unrecognizable substance.
Videos of the incident show the assailant spraying a liquid on Omar and swearing at her. Security forces overpower the man, bring him to the ground and then lead him out of the room. In the few seconds before a bodyguard intervenes, the man did not appear to attempt to lunge at or further assault the MP standing directly in front of him at the podium.
Omar continued her appearance afterwards. The 43-year-old said that attackers should not be allowed to have the last word. People like the perpetrator do not understand that the state of Minnesota and its citizens are strong and resilient. "We remain resilient - whatever they may hurl at us," Omar said to cheers and applause from those in attendance. "I will finish my speech."
She later wrote on Platform X that she was fine. A "little troublemaker" would not intimidate her and prevent her from doing her job. Omar thanked the citizens of her constituency who stood by her. Her office explained that the attacker had used a syringe to inject her with an unknown substance. He had been arrested.
US President Donald Trump repeatedly and vehemently attacks the black MP. With regard to her Somali roots, he has frequently suggested to the US citizen that she should "go back" to Somalia. At times, he has also referred to the left-wing MP as "nasty" or made fun of the Muslim woman's headscarf. Critics describe such attacks by Trump as racist.
For some conservative Republicans, the Democrat Omar is a popular enemy - she is politically far to the left, a successful black Muslim woman and is always unbending despite all criticism. Omar has also reported death threats against her in the past.
The city of Minneapolis, which Omar represents in Congress, has been in turmoil for weeks. The reason for this is the massive and often brutal deployment of heavily armed federal security forces to enforce Trump's rigorous deportation policy. The mood in the city is extremely tense - even after two killings of US citizens by federal security forces.
When Omar was just eight years old, her family fled Somalia, a country in crisis in the Horn of Africa. The current MP then moved to Minneapolis with her family in 1997. She has been a member of the House of Representatives in Washington since 2019.
28.01.2026, 08:10
