Eight People Injured as Man Attacks Pro-Israel Rally in Colorado, Shouting “Free Palestine”

There was serious confusion on Sunday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado, United States, as a man attacked a peaceful pro-Israel rally with firebombs, injuring eight people. The shocking incident happened at the popular Pearl Street Mall, a busy outdoor area where people usually gather for shopping and relaxation.

According to reports, the attacker, who was later identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian man, stormed the scene shirtless, shouting “free Palestine”.

Eyewitnesses said he was holding bottles filled with liquid and red cloth, which police later confirmed were Molotov cocktails—homemade firebombs. He also used a makeshift flamethrower to attack the crowd.

The victims, whose ages range from 52 to 88, were attending a regular event organised by a group called Run for Their Lives.

This group usually holds walks to show support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. Among those injured is an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, described by Rabbi Israel Wilhelm as a “very loving person” who has always spoken out against hate.

One eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, said: 

“The man just came out of nowhere, shouting and throwing fire. People started running, some fell down, and there was panic everywhere.”

 Videos from the scene show people screaming and running for safety, with smoke and fire everywhere. Some people were seen pouring water on the injured to cool their burns.

Police said they received emergency calls around 1:26pm local time about a man setting people on fire. Officers rushed to the scene and managed to arrest the suspect after a struggle.

The suspect, Soliman, was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has described the incident as a “targeted act of violence” and is treating it as an act of terrorism.

The head of the FBI in Denver, Mark Michalek, said:

 “It is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism.”

 He added that the suspect used “Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower” to carry out the attack.

Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, also condemned the attack, saying: 

“People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences. Hate has no place in Colorado.”

 He also said the attack “appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted.”

Further investigation revealed that the suspect, Soliman, entered the US in 2022 on a visa that expired in February 2023. He was later given a work permit. He had been living in Colorado Springs before the attack.

The Jewish community in Boulder is still in shock. Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, who spoke to journalists, said: “We are all devastated. This is a peaceful community. We never expected something like this to happen here.”

Israeli officials have also reacted strongly. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said he was “shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado.”

 He called the attack “pure antisemitism, fuelled by the blood libels spread in the media.” Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, described the event as “terrorism” and called for “concrete action” from US authorities.

This incident is the second high-profile attack in America linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict in just two weeks.

Last month, another man shouting “free Palestine” shot and killed two Israeli embassy workers outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC.

The suspect, Soliman, is now facing several serious charges, including the use of explosives, assault, and crimes against elderly people. He is currently being held in police custody as investigations continue.

The police have assured the public that they are doing everything possible to prevent such attacks in the future. They are also calling on the community to remain calm and report any suspicious activities.

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