At least six individuals sustained burns in a violent attack during a peaceful rally held in Boulder, Colorado, to show solidarity with Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The incident occurred Sunday afternoon at an open-air shopping area on Pearl Street, where demonstrators associated with the volunteer group Run For Their Lives had assembled for their regular awareness march.
Local police apprehended a male suspect, identified as Soliman, shortly after the attack. While formal charges are pending, authorities emphasized that he will be held fully accountable. The FBI has described the incident as a “targeted terror attack,” though Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn urged caution until the investigation concludes. “Speculating on a motive while witness interviews are ongoing would be irresponsible,” he stated.
The victims, all elderly individuals between the ages of 67 and 88, suffered injuries consistent with being set on fire. Officials reported that two of the injured were airlifted to a hospital in critical condition, while others received on-site or ambulance-based treatment.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and traumatic. Social media footage and initial witness reports suggest the attacker used Molotov cocktails. Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, D.C., noted that the suspect was seen with two bottles filled with flammable liquid, which he threw into the crowd.
Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old University of Colorado student, recalled seeing at least four women with leg burns. “One woman looked severely burned across her body. Someone had wrapped her in a flag. Everyone was screaming for water,” she recounted.
The suspect also sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical care. Authorities have not released details regarding the nature or severity of his condition.
The attack has heightened anxieties in the U.S. amid escalating violence linked to the ongoing Gaza conflict. The war has fueled a surge in hate incidents, including both antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks across the country.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis strongly condemned the violence, calling it a “hate-filled act” and reaffirming that such actions have no place in society. Local Jewish organizations also denounced the assault, describing it as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
The Run For Their Lives movement was created to draw attention to hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Advocacy for their release has continued globally. As of the latest estimates, around 58 Israeli hostages remain in Hamas custody.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations report that more than 54,000 people—mainly women and children—have died in Gaza since the Israeli offensive began. Over 2.3 million people are now at risk of famine due to a protracted blockade.
