Boulder, Colorado: A violent attack during a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado has left eight people injured after a 45-year-old man hurled incendiary devices into a crowd while reportedly shouting “Free Palestine”. The incident took place at Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian area near the University of Colorado, during a gathering organized by Run for Their Lives, a group advocating for the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza following the Hamas-led assault in 2023.
Boulder police confirmed that four women and four men, aged between 52 and 88, were hospitalized following the blast. One victim was critically injured, officials said. Initially, authorities had reported six injuries.
FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, identified the suspect as Mohamed Soliman and stated that he was taken to a hospital shortly after the attack. “As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” Michalek said.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser also indicated the attack appears to be a hate crime, citing the targeted nature of the incident. FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this, describing it as a “targeted terror attack.” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn stated, “We’re fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody,” and affirmed that no additional suspects were believed to be involved.
The attack marks the first violent disruption since Run for Their Lives began organizing weekly events to raise awareness about the hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The group released a statement noting that the weekly walks had been conducted peacefully until this incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded strongly to the attack, stating: “The victims were attacked simply because they were Jews”, and expressed confidence in U.S. authorities to prosecute “the cold blood perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law.” He added, “The antisemitic attacks around the world are a direct result of blood libels against the Jewish state and people, and this must be stopped.”
The incident comes amid intensifying tensions across the United States due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, which has triggered a rise in antisemitic hate crimes as well as political clashes over how to address pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a hardline stance, with some protesters detained without charge and federal funding cut from elite institutions that hosted such protests.
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Stephen Miller, Trump’s former deputy chief of staff, claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Soliman had overstayed his visa and had been granted work authorization by a previous administration, calling for a complete overhaul of U.S. immigration policy. Reuters has not independently confirmed Soliman’s immigration status. The Department of Homeland Security stated that further details would be released in due course.
Eyewitness Accounts and Harrowing Scenes
Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old University of Colorado student, described a chaotic and traumatic scene. She witnessed several women lying or sitting on the ground with visible burns, one of whom appeared to be severely injured and had been wrapped in a flag by another bystander. Coffman also recounted seeing a shirtless man, presumably the attacker, holding a glass bottle filled with clear liquid and yelling.
“Everybody is yelling, ‘get water, get water,'” Coffman recalled.
Prominent political leaders swiftly condemned the act. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated on X: “This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism.” Colorado Governor Jared Polis added: “It’s unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder.”
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The attack comes on the heels of a separate incident last month in Washington, D.C., where a gunman opened fire on attendees leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, resulting in two Israeli embassy employees being fatally shot. That attack, like the one in Boulder, has deepened the growing divide in U.S. public discourse over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
As authorities continue to investigate Sunday’s bombing, federal and state leaders have reiterated calls for vigilance and unity against hate-fueled violence.
