The FBI is probing a targeted “act of terrorism” following an incident where a man deployed a makeshift flamethrower and petrol bombs during a pro-Israel event in Colorado.
The event took place in Boulder, where a group was commemorating the Israelis still held captive in Gaza.
A 45-year-old suspect was apprehended, with the FBI stating he shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack on Pearl Street.
Six individuals, aged between 67 and 88, sustained injuries, with some requiring airlift to medical facilities.
Mohamed Soliman, 45, was holding several bottles
Bystanders attempted to help one victim while police arrested the suspect
The ground appeared scorched as the suspect was apprehended
A significant portion of downtown Boulder was sealed off as bomb squads and sniffer dogs searched for any additional threats.
Currently, authorities do not believe anyone else was involved in the incident.
Police Chief Steve Redfearn reported that the attack occurred around 1:26 PM on Sunday, with initial reports indicating “people were being set on fire”.
He mentioned that injuries varied from “very serious” to “less severe”.
Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple victims with injuries typical of burns,” Mr. Redfearn stated to the media.
Footage captured smoke ascending from a distance
According to senior law enforcement officials speaking to NBC News, at least one individual is reported to be in critical condition.
Mr. Redfearn confirmed that the suspect – identified by the FBI as Mohamed Soliman, 45 – was taken into custody without incident.
Mark Michalek, the FBI’s Denver chief, stated, “it is evident this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is treating it as an act of terrorism.”
The White House characterized the suspect as an “illegal alien” who obtained a work permit under the Biden administration, despite having overstayed a tourist visa.
Law enforcement donned protective suits as they investigated the scene. Pic: AP
A bomb disposal robot and sniffer dogs were deployed at the scene. Pic: AP
Police guided a sniffer dog through the area. Pic: AP
Boulder’s police chief stated that the assault occurred as a “group of pro-Israel individuals” was peacefully protesting.
Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old student, recounted witnessing four women on the ground with burns on their legs; one appeared severely burned and was wrapped in a flag.
“Everyone was shouting, ‘get water, get water,’” Ms. Coffman recalled.
A statement from Boulder’s Jewish community mentioned that “an incendiary device was thrown at walkers during the Run for Their Lives event on Pearl Street while they aimed to raise awareness for the hostages in Gaza.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser noted that the group attacked had gathered regularly on Pearl Street to advocate for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
A man affixed a sticker of the Israeli flag to a post near the scene. Pic: Reuters
Boulder, a university city with a population of approximately 105,000, is situated on the northwestern edge of Denver, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
This incident occurs in the wake of the arrest of a Chicago-born man linked to the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC two weeks earlier.
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Rising tensions in the US surrounding Israel’s conflict in Gaza have led to an uptick in antisemitic hate crimes, alongside some supporters of Israel characterizing pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic.
During President Trump’s administration, protesters were detained without charges, and funding was withdrawn from elite universities that allowed such demonstrations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a notable Jewish Democrat, was among the first to react to the incident.
He remarked on X: “Less than two weeks after the tragic antisemitic incident at the Capitol Jewish Museum in DC – and following two relentless years of rising antisemitic attacks nationwide – the Jewish community is once again engulfed in pain and heartbreak.”