Horror Unfolds: Boulder Attack at Hostage Vigil Sparks Nationwide Outcry
A peaceful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder, Colorado, turned into a nightmare on June 1 during a weekly walk advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The gathering, part of the global “Run for Their Lives” movement, was abruptly shattered when six elderly participants—ages 67 to 88—were set on fire near the Boulder County Courthouse. Now identified as the Boulder Attack at Hostage Vigil, the incident is under investigation as a targeted act of terrorism.
Authorities arrested 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” as he launched a violent assault using a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary device. FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek confirmed the agency is treating the event as an act of terrorism driven by ideological motives.
Victims and Emergency Response
Emergency responders swiftly arrived after 911 calls were made at 1:26 p.m. They found multiple victims suffering from severe burns and injuries. Four were transported to Boulder Community Hospital, while two others were airlifted to medical facilities in the Denver area. According to Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, at least one victim remains in critical condition.
The scene remained closed for several hours as bomb squads, canine units, and hazmat teams worked to secure the area. Authorities have since continued collecting evidence from the site and the suspect’s vehicle.
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos
Aaron Brooks, a Boulder resident and regular attendee of the event, arrived shortly after the incident. “I saw smoke coming from a person. It looked like somebody was burning, and people were throwing water on her,” Brooks recalled. He confronted a shirtless man, whom he believed to be the attacker, moments after the incident. “My friends were burning and hurt, and I got emotional,” he added.
Video footage shared on social media further captured the chaos. One clip showed a man holding glass containers filled with clear liquid, pacing and shouting while victims received aid nearby. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the attacker shouted antisemitic rhetoric, including claims that the victims were “killers.”
Motive and Terrorism Investigation
The Boulder Attack at Hostage Vigil is being treated as a hate crime and act of terrorism, according to the FBI and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “Hate has no place in Colorado,” Weiser stated. “We must hold the perpetrators of such violence accountable.”
The FBI continues to interview witnesses and gather evidence, warning that such acts of ideologically driven violence are on the rise across the nation. Officials are urging communities to remain vigilant as tensions escalate.
Related Incidents Highlight Growing Threat
The Boulder attack followed just one week after someone murdered two Israeli embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The suspect in that case also yelled pro-Palestinian slogans while in custody. Additionally, vandals defaced 18 to 20 buildings at the University of Denver with anti-Israel graffiti days before the Boulder attack, raising fears of a coordinated escalation in antisemitic violence.
Though investigators have not officially linked the incidents, Jewish leaders across the country are sounding the alarm.
National Leaders Condemn the Violence
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a strong condemnation, calling the incident a “heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community.” He emphasized that Boulder residents would stand united in the face of hate. “We have overcome tragedies together and will get through this one as a community,” Polis said.
The Boulder Jewish Community Center also released a statement expressing heartbreak. “We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street,” the statement read.
The Boulder Attack at Hostage Vigil has left lasting emotional scars, not just in Boulder, but across the country.
A Plea for Protection and Unity
As the Jewish community continues to process the trauma of recent antisemitic attacks, civil rights groups like the ADL urge both local and federal authorities to take stronger action. The Run for Their Lives movement—which hosts symbolic 1K walks to raise awareness for hostages held in Gaza—remains committed to its mission.
“We walk because they can’t,” the organization’s website states. That message now carries even more weight, as peaceful demonstrators nationwide push forward in defiance of fear and violence.