6 injured, probably with burns, in a Colorado assault the FBI is investigating as terrorism

By COLLEEN SLEVIN

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The suspect in an assault in Boulder, Colorado, that injured six yelled “Free Palestine” and used a makeshift flamethrower, the FBI stated.

Mark Michalek, the particular agent in control of the Denver discipline workplace, stated federal regulation enforcement is investigating the assault as an act of terrorism.

The suspect, recognized by the FBI as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was taken into custody. No expenses have been instantly introduced however officers stated they count on to carry him “fully accountable.”

The assault occurred at a well-liked pedestrian mall in Boulder the place a gaggle had gathered for an occasion to attract consideration to Israeli hostages who stay in Gaza. Accidents ranged from severe to minor.

Soliman was additionally injured and was taken to the hospital to be handled, however authorities didn’t elaborate on the character of his accidents.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows beneath.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — A number of folks have been injured and a few could have suffered burns Sunday in what the FBI instantly described as a “targeted terror attack” at an out of doors mall in Boulder, Colorado, the place a gaggle had gathered to lift consideration to Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

One man who authorities didn’t instantly determine was taken into custody. Video from the scene confirmed a witness shouting, “He’s right there. He’s throwing Molotov cocktails,” as a police officer along with his gun drawn superior on a bare-chested suspect with containers in every hand.

The assault occurred at a well-liked pedestrian mall in Boulder the place demonstrators with a volunteer group referred to as Run For Their Lives had gathered to lift visibility for the hostages who stay in Gaza as a conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to inflame world tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the US. It occurred greater than every week after the deadly capturing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington by a Chicago man who yelled “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza” as he was being led away by police.

FBI leaders in Washington stated they have been treating the Boulder assault as an act of terrorism, and the Justice Division — which leads investigations into acts of violence pushed by spiritual, racial or ethnic motivations — decried the assault as a “needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans.”

“This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated in a publish on X.

Israel’s conflict in Gaza started when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and abducting about 250 others. They’re nonetheless holding 58 hostages, round a 3rd believed to be alive, after many of the relaxation have been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.

Israel’s navy marketing campaign has killed over 54,000 folks in Hamas-run Gaza, largely girls and youngsters, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say how most of the useless have been civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed huge areas, displaced round 90% of the inhabitants and left folks virtually utterly reliant on worldwide support.

Police in Boulder have been extra circumspect a couple of motive. Police Chief Steve Redfearn stated it “would be irresponsible for me to speculate” whereas witnesses have been nonetheless being interviewed however famous that the group that had gathered in assist of the hostages had assembled peacefully and that accidents of the victims — starting from severe to minor — have been according to them having been set on fireplace.

The violence comes 4 years after a capturing rampage at a grocery retailer in Boulder, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver, that killed 4 folks. The gunman was sentenced to life in jail for homicide after a jury rejected his try to keep away from jail time by pleading not responsible by cause of madness.

A number of blocks of the pedestrian mall space have been evacuated by police. The scene shortly after the assault was tense, as regulation enforcement brokers with a police canine walked via the streets searching for threats and instructed the general public to remain away from the pedestrian mall.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis stated in an announcement that he was “closely monitoring” the state of affairs, including that “hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.”

Initially Printed: June 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM PDT