The world saw him being wrestled to the floor by security, but the name Anthony Kazmierczak was a mystery until the sirens faded. Now, as the 55-year-old sits in a jail cell, a disturbing online history is emerging that suggests his attack on Ilhan Omar was anything but random.
A chaotic scene unfolded at a Minneapolis town hall when a man armed with a syringe confronted Representative Ilhan Omar. During the encounter, an unidentified liquid was sprayed, sparking immediate concerns for the congresswoman's safety. This alarming incident has intensified the national conversation regarding the rising threat of violence against public officials.
While addressing a Minneapolis town hall on Tuesday, Representative Ilhan Omar was targeted by a man who doused her with an unidentified liquid. City authorities later reported that the attacker had been apprehended.
Chaos at the Town Hall
As she addressed a Minneapolis crowd regarding President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies, the Minnesota Democrat was standing at a lectern when a man in the front row suddenly rose. He directed a mysterious spray at the congresswoman while shouting words that those present could not make out.
A bystander, seemingly a member of the Minneapolis police force, lunged from behind to wrestle the individual to the floor, with others stepping in to help restrain him. As the event was being broadcast live via C-SPAN, the audio captured a person inquiring if Omar identified the liquid used in the assault. This same individual noted that the fluid emitted a powerful and unpleasant smell. (time stamp: 26:51).
The congresswoman admitted she was unsure what the substance was as onlookers reacted with audible shock and cries of 'Oh my God!.' Despite being urged to seek medical attention, Omar refused and persisted with the event. 'We're going to keep talking,' she declared, asserting that the attacker failed to realise the strength of the community. She insisted that Minnesota remains resilient regardless of the tactics used against it.
Details of the Arrest
Picking up exactly where she had been cut off, Omar demanded that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem step down while the attacker was being escorted out. In an email to UPI, Minneapolis police confirmed that the individual was apprehended on the spot by officers on duty. He was subsequently processed at Hennepin County Jail for third-degree assault.
Authorities stated that the individual utilised a needle to discharge an unidentified fluid toward Omar, who escaped the encounter without injury. The police department noted that forensic experts from Minneapolis arrived to examine the site. In a subsequent message to UPI, the agency named 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak as the person in custody.
What We Know About Anthony Kazmierczak
Reports indicate that Kazmierczak is currently held at Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault. Images of his arrest, showing him being removed from the venue by police, have been shared extensively. Meanwhile, unconfirmed links to his social media presence have emerged, including a claim on X regarding a Quora profile.
One user alleged that this profile contains significant right-wing content. However, these reports have not been verified independently.
Suspect Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, was arrested by Minneapolis PD on probable cause for 3rd-degree assault after allegedly attacking Rep. Ilhan Omar. He is currently in custody. His Quora profile features extensive right-wing posts. #IlhanOmarhttps://t.co/JSXsAzok0V pic.twitter.com/I7f9zrAa3c
— Heaven Knows (@KiritoFromAnime) January 28, 2026
One example includes a response the user posted to a thread about political bias on the platform. In his answer, he defended the former president as an outsider who is not part of the political establishment, dismissing traditional 'insider' conduct.
While acknowledging that Trump can be abrasive, he argued that a leader's personality matters less than their commitment to national strength and prosperity. He expressed a desire for a country that prevents others from taking advantage of it and suggested that the US should project a level of strength that causes adversaries to retreat and restores global respect.
While the account contains several responses to politically charged queries, it lists only a single question. In it, the user asks when the descendants of enslaved people will provide restitution to the families of Union soldiers who fought for their freedom rather than returning them to Africa.
Security Response and Political Reaction
Although it remains unconfirmed if the Quora profile actually belongs to the man who targeted Omar, the Minneapolis Police Department clarified that the assailant used a syringe to discharge a liquid at Omar. Fortunately, the congresswoman was not hurt.
The department noted that its forensic team was called in to investigate the attack site. Law enforcement later informed UPI that the individual in custody is 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak.
🚨🇺🇸 NEW CLOSE-UP FOOTAGE OF THE MAN WHO ATTACKED ILHAN OMAR AT TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 28, 2026
She was calling for ICE abolition and Noem's impeachment when Anthony Kazmierczak rushed the stage with a syringe.
Omar kept speaking and vowed to introduce articles of impeachment against Noem… https://t.co/qHKdEuS8NP pic.twitter.com/TPcgioIJeX
The U.S. Capitol Police informed UPI that they are collaborating with federal authorities to ensure the suspect faces the most severe penalties available, with the aim of discouraging similar acts of aggression in the future. Shortly after the incident, Omar's office issued a statement confirming she was unharmed. The message noted that she chose to proceed with the town hall to show that she 'doesn't let bullies win.'
The Office of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement following the incident at her town hall in North Minneapolis.
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) January 28, 2026
“During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe. Security and the Minneapolis…
Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis condemned the assault, stating that such actions 'will not be tolerated' within the city. Meanwhile, Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican and firm supporter of Donald Trump, noted that despite her strong disagreements with Omar's positions, no public servant should ever be subjected to physical violence.
Representative Jasmine Crockett was among those who pointed to the former president's rhetoric as a catalyst for the attack. Posting on X, she argued that the constant hostility and provocative language from Trump and his supporters have directly encouraged such acts of aggression.
Local Tensions and Unrest
The congresswoman organised the town hall to connect with her community amid intense friction in Minneapolis. Recent weeks have seen federal immigration officers fatally shoot two U.S. citizens—Renée Good and Alex Pretti—during demonstrations against President Trump's immigration policies.
The arrival of thousands of federal agents in the city has sparked widespread protests. Meanwhile, civil rights advocates and activists have accused these officers of violating due process, targeting US citizens for detention, using racial profiling, and employing excessive force.
