FBI Director Kash Patel said officials were investigating the incident as a “targeted terror attack.”
The attack in Boulder comes at a time of heightened violence, including high-profile incidents against the Jewish community.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the “targeted terror attack,” a senior White House official told ABC News.
Jared Polis wrote on X, describing the incident as a “heinous act of terror.”
Last month, two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed in Washington, D.C. in what was labeled as an “act of terror.”
In Boulder, Colorado, a suspect was charged with a number of offenses after allegedly committing an “act of terrorism” on a pedestrian mall on Sunday afternoon by allegedly using a “makeshift flamethrower” against a group of pro-Israel protesters.
In a Sunday night update, Boulder Police reported that eight people were hospitalized due to burn injuries. According to police, the victims, who ranged in age from 52 to 88, were all transported to nearby hospitals.
According to police, one victim was in critical condition.
The FBI said the suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was heard shouting “Free Palestine” as he threw an incendiary device at the crowd and used a “makeshift flamethrower,” according to Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.
Police said that after being taken into custody without incident, Soliman was taken to a hospital for examination.
Boulder County Jail listed a number of felony charges against Soliman, including using an incendiary device, and stated that he is being held on a $10,000,000 bond.
Although it wasn’t immediately apparent if the charge was attempted murder, first-degree murder also seemed to be included in the posted list of felony charges. Police say there haven’t been any fatalities.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the incident is being investigated as a “targeted terror attack.”. According to “early information, the evidence, and witness accounts,” Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated that the FBI believes the attack was “ideologically motivated violence.”.
The Boulder attack coincides with an increase in violence, including prominent attacks on the Jewish community.
The purpose of the Run for Their Lives walk, a pro-Israel protest, was to draw attention to the remaining hostages in Gaza. According to its website, the group organizes international run and walk events while “calling for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas.”.
An “incendiary device” was thrown at walkers, according to Leo Terrell, head of the Justice Department’s antisemitism task force.
According to Terrell, “this was not an isolated incident.”. “There is a terrible and growing wave of violence against Jews and their supporters just for being Jewish or for defending Jewish lives,” he said, referring to this antisemitic terrorist attack.
Shavuot is a Jewish holiday, and the attack took place on its eve, “making it all the more chilling and cruel,” Terrell said.
One man leading the walk described the scene as “the floor burning beneath them,” according to a statement from the group’s spokesperson, Miri Kornfeld, to ABC News. “.
Kornfeld, who did not attend the Boulder walk, announced that all future Run for Their Lives events have been postponed until further notice.
The “targeted terror attack” has been briefed to President Donald Trump, a senior White House official told ABC News.
“Any act motivated by hate is intolerable. As information becomes available, the state supports this investigation by collaborating with federal and local law enforcement,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis called the event a “heinous act of terror” in a post on X. “.”.
Chief Stephen Redfearn claimed that although Boulder Police called the attack a “tragedy” and “unacceptable,” they first refrained from labeling the incident terrorism and did not want to speculate on the suspect’s next move.
Just before 1:30 p.m., the incident took place. m. on Sunday at 13th Street and Pearl Street intersection.
People were being set on fire, and police were called to the scene of a man brandishing a weapon.
According to police, there were several victims at the scene when they arrived, all of whom had burn-like injuries. Two victims were airlifted to an Aurora burn unit, while four victims were transported to Boulder Community Hospital, according to the police. According to Redfearn, the other victims were thought to be less seriously hurt, with the exception of the one who had severe injuries.
One of the victims is reportedly a female Holocaust survivor, a source told ABC News.
Two employees of the Israeli Embassy were shot dead in Washington, D.D., last month. in what was called a “terrorist act.”. “..”.
Officials claim that the suspect, who is currently in custody, yelled “free, free Palestine” after the shooting, which caused indignation and has been denounced as an “unspeakable” act of antisemitism.
In April, Pennsylvania Gov. A Jewish man named Josh Shapiro was the target of an arsonist who, according to court documents, used a hammer to smash a window, made two Molotov cocktails out of Heineken bottles he had at home, and threw them inside the governor’s mansion.
The governor had posted about spending Passover with his family when the attack occurred.
Note from the editor: This article has been clarified.
