A horrifying scene unfolded on Sunday, June 1, at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, where six people sustained burn injuries after a man wielding a makeshift flamethrower targeted a peaceful rally advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The attacker, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the assault.
FBI Confirms Terrorism Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has classified the incident as a “targeted terror attack.” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino emphasized that the attack is being treated as ideologically motivated violence, aligning it with a growing trend of antisemitic attacks in the U.S. in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“This act of terror is being investigated based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts,” Bongino stated on X.
Incident Details: Molotovs and Flames in Downtown Boulder
The attack occurred during a demonstration organized by Run For Their Lives, a volunteer group raising awareness for hostages still held in Gaza. The four-block pedestrian mall was the site of chaos as witnesses reported the use of Molotov cocktails and a flamethrower-like device.
Video footage shows a shirtless suspect carrying containers while being confronted by police. Soliman was arrested on the scene and also suffered injuries. He was taken to a hospital, but authorities have yet to provide further details about his condition or announce specific charges.
Political and Community Reactions
- Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said it was “irresponsible to speculate” about the attacker’s motives but confirmed the victims’ burns were consistent with being intentionally set on fire.
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the violence, stating: “Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.”
- The U.S. Justice Department also condemned the incident as a “needless act of violence” against a Jewish community group.
Broader Context: Rising Tensions and Violence in the U.S.
This attack comes just days after a Chicago man fatally shot two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., while shouting pro-Palestinian slogans. Both incidents underscore escalating tensions in the U.S. tied to the conflict in Gaza, which erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages taken.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign has claimed over 54,000 lives in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and displaced 90% of the population.
