Security personnel arrested a man who sprayed Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar with liquid during her Minneapolis town hall Tuesday, Politico reported. The assault left Omar without apparent injuries.
Omar's discussion with constituents focused on Minneapolis unrest following Alex Pretti's fatal shooting by federal immigration agents, according to Politico. Federal authorities killed Pretti less than 30 days after another US citizen died at federal agents' hands in the city.
The assailant rushed Omar and doused her with an unidentified substance before security made the arrest, Politico reported. Omar paused briefly, then overruled a security officer's recommendation to end the gathering by requesting him to "please not let them have the show," and continued addressing attendees.
"Here's the reality that people like this ugly man don't understand," Omar said. "We are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us."
Authorities hold the liquid-throwing assailant in custody, Omar's office announced via social media, Politico reported. "The Congresswoman is okay," it said. "She continued with her town hall because she doesn't let bullies win."
US President Donald Trump and Republican allies have launched repeated rhetorical attacks against Omar, seeking to tie her to public benefits fraud investigations involving Minnesota's Somali community, according to Politico. Trump announced Tuesday that Justice Department investigators are examining her finances while implying she unlawfully enriched herself through her congressional position.
Minneapolis tensions intensified with the assault as citywide anti-Trump demonstrations persist over escalating federal immigration operations, Politico reported. Federal immigration officers' killings of Minneapolis residents Pretti and Renee Good sparked mounting opposition to Trump administration immigration enforcement from demonstrators throughout the city.
