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A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and was 

tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall in Minneapolis

, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement 

The audience cheered as the man, later identified as Anthony Kazmierczak, was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my God, he sprayed something on her.”

Minneapolis police said officers saw Kazmierczak use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him at the county jail for third-degree assault, spokesperson Trevor Folke said. Forensic scientists responded to the scene.

By early afternoon Wednesday, Minneapolis police were telling reporters to reach out to the FBI for questions about the investigation.

Kazmierczak has not been charged in connection with the incident. MPR News typically does not identify suspects unless they are charged with a crime but did so in this case given Omar’s prominence as a member of Congress.

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The Associated Press

Author

Annie Russell

A man sprayed an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar before being tackled during a town hall gathering Tuesday night in Minneapolis. Initial reports indicate it was nontoxic. Minneapolis police are now referring all questions around the attack to the FBI.

FBI now investigating after Rep. Omar sprayed with nontoxic fluid during town hall; man arrested

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