Mystery substance sprayed at Ilhan Omar during town hall event identified as apple cider vinegar

Published January 28, 2026 4:17pm ET



The previously unidentified substance sprayed at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during her Tuesday night town hall has been identified as apple cider vinegar.

Suspect Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, charged toward Omar while she stood behind a podium at a town hall event in northern Minneapolis on Tuesday evening. The suspect then sprayed her with the substance through a syringe before being tackled to the ground by security.

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