Multiple people sustained injuries following an incident where a man, chanting “free Palestine,” threw Molotov cocktails at a gathering in support of Israeli hostages in Colorado. Authorities state that eight individuals, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were injured during the assault at Pearl Street Mall, a popular outdoor spot in Boulder located approximately 30 miles from Denver.
According to the FBI, the event is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, with the suspect employing a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, alongside other incendiary devices. Video footage of the incident captures the suspect, who was shirtless, shouting at the group and seen possessing what appears to be Molotov cocktails in each hand at the time of his arrest.
The incident occurred during a weekly demonstration organized by Run for Their Lives, a pro-Israeli group that holds walks in solidarity with Israeli hostages in Gaza, at the outdoor pedestrian mall. Police responded to calls around 13:26 local time (20:26 BST) regarding a man with a weapon setting people on fire. Witnesses informed authorities that the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd. Police Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed the involvement of Molotov cocktails.
Mark Michalek, the head of the FBI’s Denver office, identified the suspect as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national. According to government officials, Soliman entered California on a non-immigrant visa in 2022, which expired in February 2023, and had been residing in Colorado Springs.
Warning: The following story contains distressing details.
Images and videos uploaded online, yet to be verified by the BBC, depict a man resembling the suspect as shirtless and holding bottles containing liquid with a piece of red cloth inside. He is heard shouting at the crowd and advancing on them as some attempt to flee. In the footage, a woman is seen injured and surrounded by people, with one individual pouring water on her body. Videos also show police arriving promptly and apprehending the suspect. Police state that the suspect was taken to the hospital due to injuries.
Mr. Michalek stated that the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism and wished to highlight how attacks of this nature are becoming too common in the country. This incident marks the second high-profile act of violence in the US within the past two weeks linked to the conflict in Gaza.
On 22 May, a man yelling “free Palestine” shot and killed two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC. The incident happened during a networking event organized by a Jewish organization.
Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, mentioned that based on the information available, the attack seems to be a hate crime, given the group being targeted. He emphasized that differing views on world events, including the Israeli-Hamas conflict, should not resort to violence. Weiser stated that hate has no place in Colorado.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, expressed his shock at the incident, labeling it as pure anti-Semitism and referencing the spread of blood libels in the media. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, shared his sadness over the attack, stating that terrorism against Jews extends beyond the Gaza border and has now reached the streets of America.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cev47ze8vp3o
