Eight people were injured on Sunday when a 45-year-old man shouted "Free Palestine" and hurled incendiary devices into a crowd at a demonstration for Israeli hostages held in Gaza, authorities said.
The victims—four women and four men between the ages of 52 and 88—were transported to local hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to critical, according to Boulder police. The suspect, identified as Mohamed Soliman, was taken into custody and hospitalized shortly after the attack.
Mark Michalek, the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, stated that preliminary evidence indicates the attack was a "targeted act of violence," and the bureau is investigating it as terrorism. FBI Director Kash Patel and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser echoed the sentiment, with Weiser suggesting the incident may also constitute a hate crime due to the nature of the targeted group.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed that Soliman appeared to have acted alone. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said.
The attack occurred on Pearl Street Mall, near the University of Colorado, during an event organized by Run for Their Lives—a group advocating for the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel. In a statement, the organization noted that its weekly gatherings had previously proceeded without violence.
The assault comes amid heightened tensions in the U.S. over the war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, asserting that the victims were targeted "simply because they were Jews" and calling for the perpetrator to face full legal consequences.
Meanwhile, political figures weighed in on social media. Stephen Miller, a senior aide to President Donald Trump, claimed without evidence that Soliman had overstayed his visa—a statement Reuters could not independently verify. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, denounced the violence, declaring, "We must stand up to antisemitism."
The attack follows last month’s fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., further intensifying national divisions over the conflict. Colorado Governor Jared Polis called the Boulder assault "unfathomable," while local Jewish leaders urged unity in response to the violence.
Authorities said they would increase security ahead of upcoming Jewish holiday observances, vowing to hold the attacker accountable. The Department of Homeland Security stated additional details would be released as the investigation progresses.