Several people were injured on Sunday when a man shouting "free Palestine" threw incendiary devices into a crowd attending a memorial for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado.
FBI Denver Field Office special agent Mark Michalek identified the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, and confirmed six victims, aged 67 to 88, were hospitalized.
"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.
Eyewitness Brooke Coffman, 19, described seeing four women with burns on their legs, with one victim severely burned and wrapped in a flag. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" she recalled. Coffman said she saw a shirtless man, presumed to be the attacker, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid while shouting.
At the time of the attack, demonstrators with the group 'Run For Their Lives' had gathered at the location to call for the release of hostages held in Gaza. The group holds regular walks around the world to advocate for hostage releases.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, used a makeshift flamethrower during the attack and shouted “Free Palestine,” according to Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office. Soliman was taken into custody.
Authorities have not yet announced any charges but stated that they intend to hold him “fully accountable.”
A video, apparently filmed during the incident, shows a shirtless man holding spray bottles as a fire burns on the grass in front of him. He is heard yelling, “End Zionists!”, “Palestine is Free!” and “They are killers!” toward people in red t-shirts tending to someone lying on the ground.
In another video shared on X, the same man is seen arguing with bystanders, saying at one point, “I can, I can.”
Police said the injuries ranged from minor to serious and were consistent with reports of people being set on fire. Multiple blocks around the 13th and Pearl Streets were evacuated as law enforcement officers, including K-9 units, searched the area and warned the public to stay clear.
FBI director Kash Patel said agents were already on the scene and that updates would be shared as more information becomes available.
The attack comes amid a rise in antisemitic violence across the US. Last week, a man was arrested after fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers and shouting “Free, Free Palestine” as he was detained.
Colorado governor Jared Polis said he was “closely monitoring” the situation and condemned the violence. “Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable,” he said.
FBI Denver Field Office special agent Mark Michalek identified the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, and confirmed six victims, aged 67 to 88, were hospitalized.
"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.
NEW: Colorado police respond to an attack at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 1, 2025
According to witnesses who spoke with CBS, the suspect attacked people walking to remember the Israeli hostages.
“This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the… pic.twitter.com/9RNETljAIM
Eyewitness Brooke Coffman, 19, described seeing four women with burns on their legs, with one victim severely burned and wrapped in a flag. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" she recalled. Coffman said she saw a shirtless man, presumed to be the attacker, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid while shouting.
At the time of the attack, demonstrators with the group 'Run For Their Lives' had gathered at the location to call for the release of hostages held in Gaza. The group holds regular walks around the world to advocate for hostage releases.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, used a makeshift flamethrower during the attack and shouted “Free Palestine,” according to Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office. Soliman was taken into custody.
Authorities have not yet announced any charges but stated that they intend to hold him “fully accountable.”
A video, apparently filmed during the incident, shows a shirtless man holding spray bottles as a fire burns on the grass in front of him. He is heard yelling, “End Zionists!”, “Palestine is Free!” and “They are killers!” toward people in red t-shirts tending to someone lying on the ground.
In another video shared on X, the same man is seen arguing with bystanders, saying at one point, “I can, I can.”
🚨 After trying to burn Jews alive in Boulder, Colorado today, Mohamad Soliman ranted about “children being killed” and “Until Palestine is free.”
— Jews Fight Back 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@JewsFightBack) June 1, 2025
You read that right.
He firebombed Jews—then played the victim.
This is the twisted ideology of Palestinianism:
Attack Jews, then… pic.twitter.com/Rx9QmtMTar
Police said the injuries ranged from minor to serious and were consistent with reports of people being set on fire. Multiple blocks around the 13th and Pearl Streets were evacuated as law enforcement officers, including K-9 units, searched the area and warned the public to stay clear.
FBI director Kash Patel said agents were already on the scene and that updates would be shared as more information becomes available.
The attack comes amid a rise in antisemitic violence across the US. Last week, a man was arrested after fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers and shouting “Free, Free Palestine” as he was detained.
Colorado governor Jared Polis said he was “closely monitoring” the situation and condemned the violence. “Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable,” he said.
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