BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — On Sunday, a violent incident at the Pearl Street pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado, resulted in injuries to six individuals who were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The attack, labeled a “targeted terror attack” by the FBI, involved a man using a makeshift flamethrower and hurling an incendiary device into a crowd gathered for a demonstration organized by a volunteer group known as Run for Their Lives.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack. He was arrested at the scene and later taken to the hospital for undisclosed injuries.
According to authorities, the demonstration aimed to advocate for the immediate release of Israeli hostages captured during the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023. The Pearl Street mall, where the event took place, is a popular area in downtown Boulder frequented by both tourists and locals. This violent act comes amid heightened global tensions due to the ongoing conflict, and a noted increase in antisemitic violence within the United States. Just a week prior to this attack, two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot dead in Washington, D.C., by an assailant who expressed motives linked to Palestine and Gaza.
Following the incident, police evacuated several blocks of the mall, and law enforcement officers, accompanied by a police dog, scoured the area for further threats. The atmosphere in the immediate aftermath was charged, with police advising the public to keep their distance as they responded to the scene.
This violence marks a grim reminder, occurring four years after a mass shooting claimed the lives of 10 individuals at a grocery store also located in Boulder. The previous shooter received a life sentence after a jury rejected his insanity defense.
The individuals injured in the Pearl Street incident ranged in age from 67 to 88 years. Photos captured at the scene depicted a woman lying in a fetal position, her hair soaked, while a male bystander provided assistance with water. Reports indicated that the types of injuries were consistent with victims being set on fire, leading Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn to characterize injuries as ranging from serious to minor.
As the investigation continued, authorities remained cautious in discussing the motive behind the attack. Chief Redfearn indicated it was premature to speculate on the suspect's motivations but confirmed that interviews with witnesses were ongoing. The FBI and the Justice Department are treating the incident as a potential act of ideologically motivated violence, emphasizing the attackers’ motivations may stem from recent violent trends against Jewish Americans. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino asserted that the act was a needless violence and the investigation would proceed with clarity as more factual information became available.
Video footage from the scene showed Soliman shirtless and holding bottles containing a transparent liquid while yelling at bystanders. Witnesses recorded the chaos, describing him as throwing Molotov cocktails just before police intervened, drawing weapons to apprehend him.
No charges have been laid against Soliman as authorities continue to assess the situation, but they pledged to ensure he would be held “fully accountable.” The Boulder attack is currently under thorough investigation, with federal oversight given the implications of terrorism and hate-driven violence stemming from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
