Violence Erupts at Pro-Israel Rally in Boulder, Colorado

Tragedy struck a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, when a 45-year-old man reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” before throwing incendiary devices into a crowd gathered to honor Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

The attack, which left eight people injured, is now being investigated by the FBI as a potential act of terrorism and hate crime.

Authorities confirmed that the injured included four women and four men, all between the ages of 52 and 88. They were transported to nearby hospitals, with at least one person initially reported to be in critical condition.

The suspect, identified as Mohamed Soliman, was also hospitalized shortly after the attack. Law enforcement officials have stated that they believe Soliman acted alone.

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“This was a targeted act of violence,” said Mark Michalek, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Denver Field Office. FBI Director Kash Patel echoed that assessment, labeling the incident a “targeted terror attack,” while Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser described it as a likely hate crime.

The violent outburst took place on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, a bustling pedestrian area near the University of Colorado.

At the time, demonstrators affiliated with the group Run for Their Lives were participating in a weekly event to raise awareness about hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel. The group noted that this was the first time one of their peaceful events had been marred by violence.

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said authorities are confident they have the lone suspect in custody. “We don’t believe anyone else was involved,” he stated.

The Israeli government reacted strongly to the attack. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the assault as a “terrible antisemitic terror attack” and describing it as “pure antisemitism.”

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The incident comes at a time of heightened political and social tension in the United States surrounding the ongoing war in Gaza. While pro-Palestinian protests have surged across college campuses and public spaces, conservative critics—led by President Donald Trump—have labeled many of these demonstrations as antisemitic.

In response, Trump’s administration has taken steps such as detaining protesters without charge and withdrawing federal funds from universities that permit such activities.

In a further political twist, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, claimed that Soliman had overstayed his visa and was granted work authorization by a previous administration. Miller used the incident to call for stricter immigration policies, labeling the situation as a consequence of “suicidal migration.”

As investigations continue, the Boulder community and much of the nation are left grappling with the implications of this violent attack—a stark reminder of how geopolitical conflicts can echo on domestic soil, leaving lives shattered and communities on edge.