Eight people were injured, one critically, after a man launched an incendiary attack on a peaceful march in Boulder, Colorado, intended to raise awareness about Israeli hostages held by
Hamas in Gaza.
The incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Pearl Street Mall during a weekly event organized by the group Run for Their Lives. The group hosts walks and runs nationwide to spotlight the ongoing hostage crisis.
According to authorities, the suspect—identified by the FBI as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman—used a makeshift flamethrower to target participants. Witnesses and investigators reported that Soliman shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack. An eyewitness video circulating on social media shows a shirtless man holding spray bottles and yelling “End Zionists” as smoke rises and bystanders scream.
Victims of the attack ranged in age from 55 to 88. Several were hospitalized with burn injuries, with one person listed in critical condition. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said that the nature of the injuries was “fairly consistent” with early reports that people had been set on fire.
While Redfearn confirmed that the victims were part of a pro-Israel demonstration, he stated that it was too early to determine whether the group had been specifically targeted. He added that if the attack is found to have been aimed at a particular community, police would increase protective measures.
“This was a horrific and deeply disturbing incident,” said Chief Redfearn. “We understand tensions are high, and we are taking this very seriously.”
The FBI has taken over the investigation and is treating the attack as an act of terrorism.
The attack in Boulder follows a troubling pattern of recent violence. Just ten days earlier, two people were fatally shot at a Jewish event in Washington, D.C., and in May, a man was charged with firebombing the Pennsylvania governor’s residence over his stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Local and national Jewish organizations swiftly condemned the Boulder attack. A joint statement issued by Boulder-area rabbis and the Boulder Jewish Community Center expressed sorrow and support for the victims:
“Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and we offer prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.”
Jewish Federations of North America President Eric Fingerhut called the incident “another example of a wave of domestic terror attacks aimed at the Jewish community,” and urged President Trump and Congress to expand security funding for Jewish institutions.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is Jewish, issued a strong condemnation:
“Several individuals were brutally attacked while peacefully marching to draw attention to the plight of the hostages who have been held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 604 days,” Polis wrote on X. “I condemn this vicious act of terrorism and pray for the recovery of the victims.”
As the investigation continues, community members and leaders alike are grappling with the impact of what many see as a disturbing escalation in politically motivated violence. Photo by Kevin.B, Wikimedia commons.