Man allegedly set fire to peaceful pro-Israel rally, injuring elderly victims in a suspected hate-fuelled assault.
An otherwise peaceful Sunday afternoon turned into a scene of horror in Boulder, Colorado, as six people, most of them elderly, were injured after a man allegedly hurled an incendiary device at a rally supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is accused of shouting “Free Palestine” before launching the attack in a busy pedestrian zone near a downtown courthouse. The event, part of the weekly “Run for Their Lives” initiative organised by the Boulder Jewish Community Centre, had gathered dozens of community members in solidarity with hostages still in Hamas custody.
Local authorities were alerted at 1:26pm to reports of a man with a weapon and multiple people “on fire.” Officers arriving on the scene discovered chaos: victims with visible burn injuries and bystanders pointing out the alleged attacker. Soliman was quickly taken into custody and transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn initially refrained from declaring the assault an act of terrorism, citing the early stage of the investigation. But FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek stated unequivocally during a press briefing that the agency was treating the case as a “targeted act of terrorism.”
“It is clear from witness testimony that this was an ideologically motivated attack,” Michalek said. He added that, at present, there was no indication that Soliman was part of any larger network or group.
The victims ranged in age from 67 to 88, with injuries described as minor to “very serious.” Four were taken to local hospitals while two were airlifted to a trauma centre in Aurora due to the severity of their burns.
Student Brooke Coffman, who witnessed the attack, said she saw four elderly women on the ground, their legs charred. “One woman was completely wrapped in a flag—she looked badly burned all over,” she told reporters.
Police and bomb squad teams cordoned off several blocks while investigating a vehicle of interest and clearing the area for any additional devices. An anti-bomb robot was deployed as a precaution, further illustrating the perceived threat level.
The attack occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions in the United States, where the war in Gaza has intensified polarisation. While antisemitic hate crimes have surged, so too have attempts by conservative figures to paint pro-Palestinian demonstrations as inherently antisemitic.
Former President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a hard line, detaining protestors without charge and slashing federal funding to elite universities that allowed Gaza-related demonstrations.
In response to the Boulder attack, Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the violence, saying: “My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror. Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the incident “horrifying,” adding, “We must stand up to antisemitism.”
The Boulder Jewish Community Centre released a statement expressing shock and grief: “Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken. Our hope is that we come together for one another.”
This violent act follows another chilling incident just weeks prior in Washington, DC, where two Israeli embassy employees were fatally shot after attending an advocacy event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. Both events have shaken Jewish communities across the United States and raised fears of growing politically motivated violence.
As investigations continue, authorities remain on high alert, with security beefed up at similar events nationwide.
