A male suspect was taken into custody Sunday after multiple individuals were set on fire during a peaceful demonstration advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza at a pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado. Authorities described the incident as a “targeted terror attack,” according to the FBI.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the assault, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said during a Sunday night press briefing. Six people, ranging in age from 67 to 88, sustained injuries and were transported to area hospitals.
Four victims were taken to Boulder Community Hospital, while two others were airlifted to medical facilities in the Denver metro area, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. He noted that at least one person suffered life-threatening injuries, while others were less seriously hurt.
The attack occurred on Shavuot, a Jewish holiday, and came just over a week after two Israeli Embassy aides were killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. The Boulder event was described as a “regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful gathering,” according to Michalek. Witnesses reported the attacker used a makeshift flamethrower and tossed an incendiary device into the crowd.
Boulder emergency dispatchers first received calls around 1:26 p.m. local time, reporting a man with a weapon setting people on fire near the county courthouse on Pearl Street. Officers arriving on the scene found multiple victims with burn injuries.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated the incident appeared to be a hate crime, noting the specific targeting of a group known to gather weekly to support hostages held in Gaza. “Hate has no place in Colorado,” Weiser said. “We all have the right to peaceably assemble and speak freely. But these violent acts — increasingly bold, frequent, and close to home — must end. Perpetrators must be held fully accountable.”
A senior White House official confirmed that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek stated that the FBI is actively processing the crime scene in Boulder, including examining the suspect’s vehicle and interviewing key witnesses.
“Based on the initial evidence, it’s clear this was a targeted act of violence,” Michalek said. “The FBI is treating this as an act of terrorism. Tragically, incidents like this are becoming far too frequent across the country. It underscores the ongoing threat that violent individuals pose to communities nationwide.”
‘My friends were burning and hurt’
Aaron Brooks, a Boulder resident, was riding his bike when he heard someone urgently calling for a doctor. Moments later, he saw a friend fleeing from the courthouse area. Brooks, who often participates in the weekly march, rushed toward the scene to understand what was happening.
The attack had just occurred.
“I saw smoke rising from the ground, blood on the pavement, and a person engulfed in smoke,” Brooks recalled. “It looked like someone was on fire, and people were frantically pouring water on her.”
Brooks described seeing a shirtless man shouting and holding two bottles filled with liquid. Initially, he assumed another man yelling nearby was an accomplice, but later learned that person was actually trying to intervene and stop the attacker.
“I yelled at him, ‘What are you doing? Why did you do this?’” Brooks said. “My friends were burning and hurt. I got emotional.”
University of Denver buildings vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti
Just hours before the attack in Boulder, 18 to 20 buildings on the University of Denver campus were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti.
According to Adam Rovner, director of the university’s Center for Judaic Studies, the vandalism occurred sometime between late Friday night and early Saturday morning. The graffiti appeared on various buildings across the campus, including dormitories.
At this time, authorities have not confirmed any connection between the vandalism and the Boulder attack. The university is located about 30 minutes southeast of Boulder.
Boulder Jewish Community: ‘We are saddened and heartbroken’
In a statement posted on social media, the Boulder Jewish Community Center expressed deep sorrow following Sunday’s violent attack, reaffirming its commitment to community safety and support.
“We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers during the Run for Their Lives event on Pearl Street,” the statement read. “These individuals were peacefully raising awareness for hostages still being held in Gaza. We are in contact with law enforcement, and the safety of our community remains our highest priority.”
Run for Their Lives is a global grassroots initiative advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. According to its website, local communities gather weekly to walk or run a one-kilometer route while wearing coordinated shirts and carrying the flags of the hostages’ home countries. “The term ‘Run’ is symbolic,” the group notes, “because the hostages cannot run for their lives. We run or walk on their behalf—to act before it’s too late.”
ADL: Suspect appeared to accuse victims of being ‘killers’
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported it had reviewed video footage of the alleged attacker and said he appeared to express antisemitic and violent rhetoric during the incident.
“We believe he can be heard saying, ‘How many children have you killed?’ and ‘We need to end Zionists,’” the ADL said in a statement. The suspect also allegedly pointed toward apparent victims and declared, “They are killers.”
‘A very beautiful day’ shattered by violence
The attack took place shortly after 1:30 p.m. local time near the Pearl Street Mall, a bustling four-block pedestrian area in downtown Boulder lined with shops, restaurants, and the historic county courthouse.
By 2:08 p.m., Boulder police confirmed that several victims had been reported in the area. Within an hour, they announced the evacuation of several blocks between Walnut and Pine streets as the investigation intensified.
“There were a lot of people out—it was a very beautiful day,” Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. He confirmed the targeted group was participating in a peaceful, recurring demonstration in support of Israel. He described the violence as “unacceptable” and said it was too early to definitively determine the motive.
FBI: Incident being treated as ideologically motivated violence
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated on X that federal leadership was already in Boulder and that the investigation was progressing quickly.
“This act of terror is being investigated as an ideologically motivated act of violence, based on early evidence and witness testimony,” Bongino said. “We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it.”
Attack follows a wave of antisemitic and violent incidents
The Boulder attack comes amid rising tensions nationwide and internationally. According to civil rights organizations, both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents have increased sharply since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel’s ongoing military response has reportedly resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths, per Gaza health authorities.
The incident also follows the May 21 shooting of two Israeli embassy employees—Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim—outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The suspect in that attack shouted “Free, free Palestine” while in custody, according to officials. Israeli diplomatic missions heightened their security protocols in response.
Days later, federal agents arrested a dual U.S.-German citizen in New York for allegedly attempting to firebomb a U.S. Embassy branch in Tel Aviv.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis condemns the attack
Governor Jared Polis called the Boulder attack a “heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community,” vowing that the state would work closely with local and federal authorities to ensure justice.
“My thoughts are with those injured in this heinous and targeted act. Boulder is strong. We’ve faced tragedies before and will get through this together,” Polis said. He emphasized the emotional toll on the Jewish community as the attack occurred on the eve of Shavuot, a major Jewish holiday. “It is unfathomable that, as the community grieves recent antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., it now faces another attack here in Boulder.”
The governor also highlighted that the victims had gathered to peacefully raise awareness for hostages held in Gaza for 604 days.
Jewish organizations vow to continue peaceful advocacy
The Anti-Defamation League stated it was monitoring the situation and reaffirmed its support for the Boulder Jewish community.
“We are aware of reports of an attack at today’s Boulder Run for Their Lives event—a weekly meeting of Jewish community members to support the hostages kidnapped on 10/7,” the ADL said.
Jewishcolorado, a Denver-based nonprofit affiliated with the Jewish Federations of North America, echoed this commitment.
“We have been walking in Boulder, CO since Thanksgiving 2023 to show solidarity for the hostages still being held in Gaza,” the organization’s website reads. “We will continue to walk until every hostage is released.”
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