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National Post

FBI probing ‘improvised flame thrower' attack on Boulder Jews as hate crime

Article content 'Several individuals were brutally attacked while peacefully marching to draw attention to the plight of the hostages who have been held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 604 days,' he stated. 'I condemn this vicious act of terrorism and pray for the recovery of the victims.' Article content Leo Terrell, the head of the federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and a Department of Justice adviser, stated that 'this was not an isolated incident. This antisemitic terrorist attack is part of a horrific and escalating wave of violence targeting Jews and their supporters simply for being Jewish or standing up for Jewish lives. Article content Article content 'This latest antisemitic terrorist attack happened on the eve of a Jewish holiday, Shavuot, making it all the more chilling and cruel,' he said. 'This cannot continue. This must not be normalized.' Article content Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, stated that 'the attack in Boulder is another example of a wave of domestic terror aimed at the Jewish community,' a wave that 'must be the highest priority for the Trump administration and Congress.' Article content Article content Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, said that 'the firebombing of a peaceful march in Boulder, Colo.—organized to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas—is horrifying, but it should not come as a surprise. Article content Article content 'Since Oct. 7, we have been warning that antisemitism is not isolated to the margins. Supporters of Hamas are now emboldened and threatening towns and cities across America and the democratic world,' Lauder said. 'This attack, like the murders outside the Jewish museum in Washington, is part of a broader wave of hate that is being tolerated far too easily—from college campuses to government halls. Article content 'It is not just the Jewish community that suffers. This violence tears at the very fabric of our societies,' Lauder added. Article content The Anti-Defamation League said that it is 'closely monitoring' reports of a 'violent antisemitic attack during today's Run for Their Lives event in Boulder, Colo.,' which 'occurred at a weekly gathering where Jewish community members run and walk in solidarity with the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7.' Article content Article content The ADL Center on Extremism reviewed video footage of the suspect and believes he can be heard saying, 'How many children have you killed,' 'We have to end Zionists' and 'They are killers,' while gesturing 'toward what appears to be the victims of the attack.' Article content Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and national director of the ADL, said that 'this is the second violent attack on the U.S. Jewish community in two weeks. Article content 'First, a young couple slaughtered in Washington, D.C. Now, a firebomb thrown at a group in Boulder, Colo., as they gathered to express solidarity with the 58 hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists,' he stated. 'Two peaceful Jewish events that ended with rage-filled, violent attacks.' Article content Article content Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that '600-plus days of 'pro-Palestinian' protests in the U.S. have morphed into violent, antisemitic, pro-Hamas terrorism. Article content 'On May 21, a young Jewish woman and her Israeli embassy boyfriend gunned down in D.C.,' he wrote. 'Now American Jews targeted in Boulder. The FBI, and the Trump administration, know this foreign-fueled domestic terror must be stopped before more Americans are murdered.'