The FBI has opened an investigation following an attack on United States Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who was sprayed with an unknown substance during a public event in Minneapolis.
The incident occurred on Tuesday while the Minnesota lawmaker was addressing supporters and advocating for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. A 55-year-old man, Anthony Kazmierczak, has been arrested by local police and charged with third-degree assault.
Federal authorities confirmed that assaults on sitting lawmakers automatically fall under FBI jurisdiction. While the agency has not released detailed findings, it said the investigation is ongoing.
Speaking a day after the incident, Omar blamed the attack on what she described as sustained hostile rhetoric directed at her by former US President Donald Trump, saying such remarks have consistently increased threats to her life.
Ilhan, a Somali-born US citizen and the first Somali-American elected to Congress, said she would not require heightened security if not for the political climate surrounding her work and identity.
The attack has renewed debates around political violence, hate speech, and the safety of elected officials in the United States, particularly those from minority communities.
