Eight people were injured Sunday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado, when a man wielding a makeshift flamethrower and yelling “Free Palestine” attacked a group gathered in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The FBI has declared the incident an act of terrorism, adding to growing concerns about ideologically motivated violence in the United States.
The attack took place on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian area, as members of the volunteer group Run For Their Lives were concluding their weekly demonstration. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly threw incendiary devices — believed to be Molotov cocktails — at the group, causing several victims to suffer burns.
Soliman was arrested on the scene and is being treated for injuries sustained during the incident. Authorities believe he acted alone and have not released details about his motive beyond witness accounts of him shouting pro-Palestinian slogans. Charges are pending.
The attack coincided with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and comes less than a week after a separate violent incident in Washington, D.C., where a gunman shouting “Free Palestine” allegedly killed two Israeli embassy staffers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Colorado assault, calling it a “vicious terror attack” targeting Jewish people who had gathered peacefully in solidarity with hostages.
“This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews,” Netanyahu said in a statement. He added that Israel is praying for the victims’ recovery.
The victims of Sunday’s attack range in age from 52 to 88. Some suffered serious injuries while others were treated for minor burns. Video footage from the scene shows the panic that followed the explosions, with bystanders rushing to extinguish flames and assist victims.
One bystander, Alex Osante of San Diego, was dining on a nearby patio when he heard glass shattering and a loud boom. He captured video showing a woman lying on the ground being doused with water to put out flames. In the footage, a man identifying himself as an Israeli visitor is seen seeking water to help treat the injured.
According to witnesses, the suspect reappeared after the initial attack and attempted to throw another Molotov cocktail — accidentally igniting himself in the process. He removed his shirt and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest before surrendering to police without resistance.
The demonstration had been peaceful until the attack. Lynn Segal, one of the attendees, described the sudden burst of flames as a “rope of fire.” She said that while she supports Palestinian rights, she feared being mistakenly associated with the attacker because of her clothing, which featured a pro-Palestinian message.
“I wanted to help, but I didn’t want to be associated with the perpetrator,” Segal said. “There were people burning. It was chaos.”
The FBI’s Denver field office is leading the investigation, which it says meets the threshold for terrorism due to ideological motivation and targeted violence against a community. The U.S. Justice Department echoed that classification and vowed to hold the attacker accountable.
“This is a needless act of violence that follows a disturbing pattern of recent attacks targeting Jewish Americans,” said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, adding that timely intervention and community awareness were crucial in preventing further harm.
Security has since been increased at Jewish and religious sites across the U.S., including in New York City, where police are on heightened alert for the remainder of Shavuot.
The attack marks another flashpoint in rising global tensions following the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed roughly 1,200 civilians and resulted in over 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry — figures that remain disputed and don’t differentiate civilians from combatants.
Multiple blocks of the Pearl Street area were evacuated as police combed the streets with dogs, searching for additional threats. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
Sunday’s violence also stirred memories of Boulder’s last mass casualty event — the 2021 grocery store shooting that killed 10 people. That gunman was sentenced to life in prison in 2024.
As the investigation unfolds, both local and federal authorities are urging anyone with additional footage or information to come forward. The community, meanwhile, is once again grappling with fear, anger, and a renewed call for vigilance in the face of rising hate-motivated violence.