US Representative Ilhan Omar has said that the syringe attack against her on tuesday was linked to anger over deportations of Somali immigrants, suggesting that US President Donald Trump bears responsibility for the incident.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference at Minneapolis’ Karmel Mall, Omar said the attacker believed deportations of Somalis under Trump’s policies were insufficient.
“The man that attacked me was specifically upset that Trump’s order to deport Somalis was not yielding enough deportations of Somalis,” Omar said.
“He wanted to come get the person he thought was protecting the Somalis,” she said, referring to the suspect, 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak.
She claimed that threats against her increase when Trump publicly comments about her and the community she represents. “The facts show that since I have been in elected office, every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” Omar said.
According to the congresswoman, threats against her declined during the four years Trump was out of office but rose again after his return. “They plummeted for four years when he was not in office, and now they are the highest of all members of Congress since he reassumed his vitriol,” she said.
“I wouldn’t be where I am at today, having to pay for security, having the government to think about providing me security, if Donald Trump wasn’t in office and if he wasn’t so obsessed with me,” Omar said.
She also pointed to remarks Trump made at an Iowa rally shortly before the attack. “It is ironic that just last night, he was on stage, moments before I was attacked, talking about me,” she said.
Omar criticised Trump’s response when he was later asked about the incident. “Then when asked about my attack, he said, ‘I don’t think about her.’ Does he not remember? Is he suffering from dementia?” she asked.
The attack occurred on Tuesday during a town hall meeting in North Minneapolis, when Anthony Kazmierczak rushed the stage and sprayed Omar with a liquid using a syringe, according to witnesses and video footage.
The substance was later identified as apple cider vinegar.
Omar was not injured in the incident and continued speaking at the town hall shortly afterward.
Kazmierczak has been charged with third-degree assault and is being held by authorities. A neighbour described him as being “heavily medicated” and a supporter of Trump.
At the Iowa rally, Trump told supporters that Omar “comes from a country that’s a disaster.” “It’s considered, I think, the worst country. It’s not even a country,” he said.