Brother of Omar Attacker Labels Him 'Right-Wing Extremist' with Lifelong Somali Hatred
The man accused of attacking Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting in Minnesota has been described by his own brother as a "piece of s**t" and a "right-wing extremist" who has harboured deep-seated animosity toward the Somali community for decades. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the brother of Anthony James Kazmierczak revealed disturbing details about his sibling's long-standing fixation on the Somali-born congresswoman and broader diaspora.
Family Estrangement and Political Extremism
"I'm not surprised this happened," declared Kazmierczak's 52-year-old brother during a Wednesday morning phone conversation from his North Carolina residence. "Not at all. Unfortunately, he and my mother are both right-wing extremists." The brother, whose identity was protected by The Independent due to receiving death threats, explained he has been estranged from his 55-year-old sibling for the past four years, describing fundamental differences in their worldviews.
"I believe in helping people," he stated. "He believes in blaming people." When questioned about whether Kazmierczak had previously mentioned Omar, the brother responded emphatically, "Oh, yeah," expressing gratitude that the congresswoman—who fled war-torn Somalia as a child and became a U.S. citizen in 2000—escaped serious injury.
Decades of Animosity and Anger Issues
"He has had a hatred of the Somali community for probably 20 years," Kazmierczak's brother continued, shedding light on the motivations behind the assault. "There's a reason I don't talk to him... He's got a lot of anger, I have no idea where it comes from. He's always been that way. In and out of treatment since he was a kid."
The attack occurred during Omar's address to constituents at the Urban League Twin Cities on Tuesday evening. As the progressive congresswoman called for abolishing ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), Kazmierczak suddenly stood up and rushed toward her, spraying an unidentified foul-smelling substance from a syringe in his right hand. Bystander footage captured the bizarre incident before security personnel intervened.
Immediate Aftermath and Political Reactions
Following the security guard's tackle, Kazmierczak was arrested by police and charged with third-degree assault. Remarkably, Omar—the first Somali-American to serve in Congress—requested only a napkin to clean herself before continuing her address to approximately 100 attendees. "We're gonna keep talking," she asserted. "Just give me 10 minutes. Please don't let them have the show."
The frightening episode prompted bipartisan condemnation, including from Republican Representative Nancy Mace, who expressed being "deeply disturbed" by the attack via social media. "Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric—and I do—no elected official should face physical attacks," Mace wrote. "This is not who we are." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, called for an immediate end to what he termed "cruel, inflammatory, dehumanizing rhetoric" from right-wing politicians.
Broader Context of Threats and Political Climate
Omar's assault occurred just one day after federal charges were unsealed against a legally blind "outlaw biker" in Kansas who allegedly posted death threats targeting the congresswoman on social media. According to recently released U.S. Capitol Police data, threats against elected officials have risen for the third consecutive year, with the Threat Assessment Section investigating 14,938 incidents in 2025—a significant increase from 9,474 in 2024 and 8,008 in 2023.
The congresswoman faces regular public denigration from former President Donald Trump, who has labelled her a "socialist," called her "disgusting," and variously demanded her impeachment, imprisonment, or deportation. Trump has also made unsubstantiated claims about Omar's wealth, suggesting unethical acquisition of funds—allegations that were previously investigated by the Department of Justice during the Biden administration but dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Attacker's Background and Personal Struggles
Kazmierczak, a Minneapolis resident and staunch Trump supporter according to his online activity, has a criminal history including a 1989 felony auto theft conviction, multiple DUI arrests, and two bankruptcy filings. A neighbour told the New York Post that Kazmierczak has been "heavily medicated" since a car accident damaged his spine and has since received a Parkinson's diagnosis, describing him as a "pretty conservative guy."
These health issues have left Kazmierczak "not very physically able to do much," according to the neighbour. Yet his brother revealed that Kazmierczak regularly "complains about socialism" while having "cheated the system" to receive his own entitlements. "He's crazy," Kazmierczak's brother concluded. "He needs help, period... In my mind, he's a piece of s**t."
The incident highlights growing concerns about political violence and extremist rhetoric, particularly against minority politicians, as threats against elected officials continue their alarming upward trajectory across the United States.
