In a shocking incident in Boulder, Colorado, eight individuals were injured when a suspect hurled Molotov cocktails at a pro-Israel gathering. The FBI is treating the incident as terrorism, highlighting escalating violence linked to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Violence Erupts at Pro-Israel Rally in Colorado, Injuring Eight
Violence Erupts at Pro-Israel Rally in Colorado, Injuring Eight
A Molotov cocktail attack during a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder raises concerns over rising anti-Semitic violence in the U.S.
A peaceful demonstration supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza turned violent in Boulder, Colorado, as a suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, launched a Molotov cocktail attack on participants. Authorities reported that at least eight people, aged between 52 and 88, sustained injuries during the chaos that unfolded at the Pearl Street Mall, a popular outdoor space approximately 30 miles from Denver.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene where Soliman, shirtless and wielding incendiary devices, shouted "free Palestine" while targeting the crowd gathered by the pro-Israel group Run for Their Lives. Responding to calls about an individual with a weapon, Boulder police discovered multiple victims suffering from burns among smoke and flames.
FBI officials characterized the attack as a suspected act of terrorism, with Soliman's use of makeshift flamethrowers and Molotov cocktails highlighting a grave escalation in violence. The suspect, an Egyptian national whose visa expired earlier this year, had been residing in Colorado Springs and reportedly instigated a chaotic environment, causing attendees to flee.
Eyewitness footage captured the pandemonium, showing emergency services arriving while attendees attempted to assist the injured who were left on the ground. Officials have denounced the act as a targeted hate crime, emphasizing the need for peaceful discourse amid rising tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Boulder’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, expressed concern about the increasing rate of violence defined by political beliefs. Israeli officials expressed their outrage, labeling the assault an act of pure antisemitism and a reminder that hate is pervasive, echoing sentiments that anti-Jewish violence is now a domestic issue.
Calls for heightened awareness and preventive measures against hate crimes are now more pressing than ever as the investigation continues. The FBI remains vigilant, examining the potential rise in extremist violence and its implications for communities nationwide.
