Breaking: Rep. Ilhan Omar Sprayed at Minneapolis Town Hall in Tense Incident

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026, 10 p.m. — In a shocking and unsettling series of events, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was rushed and sprayed with an unknown liquid during a town hall at the Urban League Twin Cities late Monday evening. The incident, which occurred amid extreme cold temperatures that have gripped Minnesota, added to a tense atmosphere in the community.

The town hall, attended by residents eager to discuss pressing issues, took a disturbing turn when a man sitting in the front row suddenly sprayed a substance at Omar before being swiftly removed by security and police. Footage captured by local journalist Taylor Dahlin shows the startling moment as Omar is startled and momentarily stunned by the spray. Despite the chaos, she quickly regained her composure and addressed the audience, refusing to be silenced by violence.

"We will continue. These f****** a**holes are not going to get away with it," Omar declared, her voice steady amid the disruption. She urged calm, telling her team, "Just give me 10 minutes. Just give me 10 minutes. I beg you."

Omar’s resilience shone through as she added, "We’re Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us." She emphasized her commitment to leadership, continuing her remarks on demanding the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and threatening to introduce articles of impeachment if necessary.

A staff member was heard mentioning that the substance "smells so bad" and expressed concern about Omar's health. In a statement issued later, Omar’s office confirmed the incident, stating that security apprehended the suspect, who remains in custody, and that Omar is unharmed.

This unsettling event comes just two days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by immigration agents, fueling ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and political violence in Minnesota. The incident also coincides with a brutal cold snap that has left many Minnesotans battling record-low temperatures, with wind chills plunging well below zero. Local officials have warned residents to stay indoors and take precautions against the extreme cold.

Adding to the national climate of unrest, Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, was also targeted recently when he was attacked and called racial slurs during an event in Utah. These incidents highlight a troubling rise in political and racial violence across different parts of the country, underscoring the dangerous atmosphere many public figures now face.

Omar, one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, has long been a target of right-wing criticism and abuse, with former President Donald Trump recently calling her "garbage" and suggesting she should be deported to Somalia.

Rob Redding is the author of No. 1 best selling book Black Power in the Age of Artificial Supremacy Featuring Redding-Shim Kwet Yung . He is the bestselling author of 18 books. He is the host of Redding News Review Unrestricted and creator of ReddingNewsReview.com. He is also an emerging visual artist who lives and teaches at two colleges in New York City.