Man with flamethrower attacks Boulder protest on Pearl Street

A peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, turned into chaos on Sunday when a man armed with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails attacked a crowd gathered to support Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames erupted near 13th and Pearl Street, sending people running and screaming for safety.

The suspect, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was heard shouting "free Palestine" and other anti-Zionist slogans during the assault. He reportedly threw incendiary devices at participants of the weekly "Run for Their Lives" event, which aims to raise awareness for hostages in Gaza Authorities say Soliman told investigators he had planned the attack for a year and intended to die during the incident.

At least twelve people, mostly aged 52 to 88, suffered burn injuries, with six hospitalized and two remaining in critical condition as of Monday. Among the victims was an 88-year-old Holocaust refugee and a University of Colorado professor Quick action from bystanders, including a local shopkeeper, helped extinguish flames and provide aid before emergency crews arrived..

Law enforcement, including the FBI and bomb squads, evacuated several blocks and are treating the incident as a targeted act of terrorism and a potential hate crime The Boulder County district attorney has pledged to pursue full accountability for the attacker, who faces federal hate crime and attempted murder charges.

This attack comes amid heightened tensions in the U.S. over the Israel-Gaza conflict, with a rise in antisemitic hate crimes and increased security concerns at public demonstrations.