FBI responding to "targeted terror attack" in Colorado, Bureau chief says
State and local law enforcement from Boulder, Colorado, and the FBI are responding to a Sunday afternoon incident that left multiple people with burns near the site of a demonstration calling for the release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza.
The big picture: FBI chief Kash Patel on X called the incident a "targeted terror attack," though Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said at a briefing that police were not treating the incident as terrorism at this stage. He confirmed that a suspect was in custody.
Witnesses said someone had thrown Molotov cocktails at people and Redfearn confirmed that police had received reports that individuals had been "set on fire."
Police arrived on the scene and found multiple victims with injuries, some of which Redfearn said he believed were life-threatening.
Details: Authorities said they were called to the incident at 13th and Pearl streets at 1:26pm.
UCHealth spokesperson Kelli Christensen told Axios over the phone that two patients taken to the local hospital, but she said she could not comment on the extent or nature of their injuries.
Boulder's Jewish Community Center in a statement said they're "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."
Zoom in: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in an emailed statement: "From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted. I have been in touch with Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty and have offered support from the Attorney General's Office."
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said on X he's "closely monitoring the situation in Boulder" and his "thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror."
He added, "Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable."
What they're saying: Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, in a statement on the incident said: "Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border — it is already burning the streets" of the U.S.
"Today, in Boulder, Colorado, Jewish people marched with a moral and humane demand: to return the hostages. In response, the Jewish protesters were brutally attacked, with an attacker throwing a Molotov cocktails at them," he said.
"Make no mistake – this is not a political protest, this is terrorism. The time for statements is over. It is time for concrete action to be taken against the instigators."
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