Ilhan Omar fears for family’s safety after barrage of threats over Israel criticism

Ilhan Omar said far-right Republican attacks ‘directly endangered my life and that of my family, as well as subjected my staff to traumatic verbal abuse’. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Ilhan Omar, a Muslim US representative, said she fears for her family’s safety after receiving an onslaught of threats for criticizing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

The Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota opened up in a statement about the increase in Islamophobic remarks and threats she has received, including threats directed at her family. NBC News first reported on the statement, which was later shared with the Guardian.