‘Targeted terror attack’ in Colorado – with reports petrol bombs thrown at pro-Israel event in Boulder | US News
The FBI says it is investigating a “targeted terror attack” in Colorado – with reports a man attacked a pro-Israel event with petrol bombs.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were on the scene and working with local law enforcement.
Witnesses told US media the attacker threw Molotov cocktails at people doing a walk to remember Israeli hostages in Gaza.
A male suspect is in custody.
Local police said there were “multiple victims” and a large part of the downtown area around Pearl Street was cordoned off.
Police chief Steve Redfearn said it happened around 1.26pm local time and initial reports were that “people were being set on fire”.
He said some victims were in hospital and injuries ranged from “very serious” to “more minor”.
“When we arrived we encountered multiple victims that were injured, with injuries consistent with burns,” Mr Redfearn told the media.
He said a suspect had been pointed out and taken into custody without incident.
“This area is not safe yet and we’re dealing with a vehicle of interest,” he added.
Phone footage showed smoke rising over a park area in Boulder
Mr Redfearn said it happened as a “group of pro-Israel people” were peacefully demonstrating, but that he couldn’t confirm a specific group had been targeted.
The police chief said it was too early to call it a “terror attack” – but Colorado’s governor did use those words.
Jared Polis said on Facebook it was “unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here”.
A joint statement from Boulder’s Jewish community said: “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 as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza.”
It added: “Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.”
Boulder is a popular university city of about 105,000 people on the northwest edge of Denver, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
The attack follows the arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington DC two weeks ago.
Tensions are simmering in the US over Israel’s war in Gaza.
There has been an increase in antisemitic hate crime, as well as moves by some supporters of Israel to brand pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic.
President Trump’s administration has detained protesters without charge and pulled funding from elite universities that have permitted such demonstrations.
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