In a distressing incident in Boulder, Colorado, six individuals were injured when a 45-year-old man shouted “Free Palestine” and threw incendiary devices into a crowd. This demonstration was held to honor the Israeli hostages currently in Gaza, according to US authorities.
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Mark Michalek, the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, reported that the victims, aged between 67 and 88 years, were promptly transported to hospitals for treatment. He emphasized, “Given these preliminary facts, it is clear this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism.”
The suspect has been identified as Mohamed Soliman, 45, who was hospitalized immediately following the attack.
In response to the incident, the FBI announced via Twitter:
“We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available.”
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash), June 1, 2025
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn reassured the public, stating that he did not believe there were any additional suspects involved. “We’re fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody,” he affirmed. He described the event, noting, “This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street, and this act was unacceptable.” He urged the community to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts.
This tragic event comes amidst elevated tensions across the United States related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As the situation unfolds, we’ve seen a troubling rise in antisemitic hate crimes coupled with some conservative supporters of Israel, led by President Donald Trump, labeling pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic. The administration has even detained war protesters without charge and cut off funding to elite U.S. universities that permitted such demonstrations.
In the aftermath, Boulder police set up roadblocks to manage the situation. Witnessing the incident was 19-year-old Brooke Coffman from the University of Colorado. She described seeing four women on the ground with burns, one with severe injuries being comforted and wrapped in a flag. “I saw a man, whom I presumed to be the attacker, standing shirtless in the courtyard, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting,” she recalled, adding, “Everybody is yelling, ‘get water, get water.'”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a notable Jewish Democrat, expressed his concern: “This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism.” The attack comes shortly after the arrest of a Chicago-born man linked to the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC, which intensified polarization over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian advocates.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis voiced his shock, stating on social media, “It is unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder.”
As this situation continues to develop, our thoughts remain with the victims and their families during this challenging time.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
