US congresswoman Omar sprayed by unknown substance during speech

MINNEAPOLIS: US Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar was targeted during a speech late Tuesday by a man who sprayed an unidentified liquid at her from a syringe before being tackled by security guards, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.

The man was led out of the premises as Omar continued her speech, saying, "We will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw on us."

The man was taken into custody by Minneapolis police, her office said.

The incident took place during a town hall in the US city of Minneapolis, where two American citizens were killed this month in a violent anti-immigration crackdown with thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents provoking growing unrest.

Omar had just finished calling for the Trump administration to reverse its current course when the attack occurred.

"ICE cannot be reformed; it cannot be rehabilitated. We must abolish ICE for good," Omar said, to applause. "And (Department of Homeland Security) Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment."

After Omar uttered those words, a man sprang up from the front row, made a remark, and sprayed the congresswoman, as security leapt to grab him. Omar raised a fist and stepped toward the attacker before returning to the podium.

After uttering a few expletives and against her team's vocal concerns that she should not continue, the congresswoman took the microphone.

"Here's the reality that people like this ugly man don't understand: We are Minnesota strong. And we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw on us," Omar said.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump blasted Omar and Somalia during a speech in Iowa, saying the Mogadishu-born congresswoman "comes from a country that's a disaster."

Trump has ordered 143 strikes against Somalia in his second term, according to US think tank New America, and has pulled back diplomatic relations, including recently stopping humanitarian aid.