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Asia Times
20 hours ago
- Asia Times
‘Godfather of AI' now fears it's unsafe and has a plan to fix it
This week, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed two men suspected of bombing a fertility clinic in California last month allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to obtain bomb-making instructions. The FBI did not disclose the name of the AI program in question. This brings into sharp focus the urgent need to make AI safer. Currently we are living in the 'wild west' era of AI, where companies are fiercely competing to develop the fastest and most entertaining AI systems. Each company wants to outdo competitors and claim the top spot. This intense competition often leads to intentional or unintentional shortcuts – especially when it comes to safety. Coincidentally, at around the same time of the FBI's revelation, one of the godfathers of modern AI, Canadian computer science professor Yoshua Bengio, launched a new nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a new AI model specifically designed to be safer than other AI models – and target those that cause social harm. So what is Bengio's new AI model? And will it actually protect the world from AI-faciliated harm? In 2018, Bengio, alongside his colleagues Yann LeCun and Geoffrey Hinton, won the Turing Award for the groundbreaking research they had published three years earlier on deep learning. A branch of machine learning, deep learning attempts to mimic the processes of the human brain by using artificial neural networks to learn from computational data and make predictions. Bengio's new nonprofit organisation, LawZero, is developing 'Scientist AI.' Bengio has said this model will be 'honest and not deceptive', and incorporate safety-by-design principles. According to a preprint paper released online earlier this year, Scientist AI will differ from current AI systems in two key ways. First, it can assess and communicate its confidence level in its answers, helping to reduce the problem of AI giving overly confident and incorrect responses. Second, it can explain its reasoning to humans, allowing its conclusions to be evaluated and tested for accuracy. Interestingly, older AI systems had this feature. But in the rush for speed and new approaches, many modern AI models can't explain their decisions. Their developers have sacrificed explainability for speed. Bengio also intends 'Scientist AI' to act as a guardrail against unsafe AI. It could monitor other, less reliable and harmful AI systems — essentially fighting fire with fire. This may be the only viable solution to improve AI safety. Humans cannot properly monitor systems such as ChatGPT, which handle over a billion queries daily. Only another AI can manage this scale. Using an AI system against other AI systems is not just a sci-fi concept – it's a common practice in research to compare and test different levels of intelligence in AI systems. Large language models and machine learning are just small parts of today's AI landscape. Another key addition Bengio's team is adding to Scientist AI is the 'world model,' which brings certainty and explainability. Just as humans make decisions based on their understanding of the world, AI needs a similar model to function effectively. The absence of a world model in current AI models is clear. One well-known example is the 'hand problem': most of today's AI models can imitate the appearance of hands but cannot replicate natural hand movements, because they lack an understanding of the physics — a world model — behind them. Another example is how models such as ChatGPT struggle with chess, failing to win and even making illegal moves. This is despite simpler AI systems, which do contain a model of the 'world' of chess, beating even the best human players. These issues stem from the lack of a foundational world model in these systems, which are not inherently designed to model the dynamics of the real world. Yoshua Bengio is recognized as one of the godfathers of AI. Alex Photo: Wong / Getty Images via The Conversation Bengio is on the right track, aiming to build safer, more trustworthy AI by combining large language models with other AI technologies. However, his journey isn't going to be easy. LawZero's US$30 million in funding is small compared to efforts such as the US$500 billion project announced by US President Donald Trump earlier this year to accelerate the development of AI. Making LawZero's task harder is the fact that Scientist AI – like any other AI project – needs huge amounts of data to be powerful, and most data are controlled by major tech companies. There's also an outstanding question. Even if Bengio can build an AI system that does everything he says it can, how is it going to be able to control other systems that might be causing harm? Still, this project, with talented researchers behind it, could spark a movement toward a future where AI truly helps humans thrive. If successful, it could set new expectations for safe AI, motivating researchers, developers, and policymakers to prioritize safety. Perhaps if we had taken similar action when social media first emerged, we would have a safer online environment for young people's mental health. And maybe, if Scientist AI had already been in place, it could have prevented people with harmful intentions from accessing dangerous information with the help of AI systems. Armin Chitizadeh is lecturer, School of Computer Science, University of Sydney This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
The slimming shot: What price are you willing to pay for a dream body?
A Chinese scientist entered the United States last year with a toxic fungus stashed in his backpack, according to federal authorities who filed charges against him and a girlfriend who worked in a university lab. The pathogen is known as Fusarium graminearum, which can attack wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and sicken livestock and people, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in a court filing in Detroit, Michigan. The FBI said a scientific journal describes it as a "potential agroterrorism weapon". On Tuesday, authorities charged Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud. "The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party, are of the gravest national security concerns," US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr said. Jian appeared in court and was returned to jail to await a bond hearing on Thursday. An attorney who was assigned only for her initial appearance declined to comment. In July 2024, Liu was turned away at the Detroit airport and sent back to China after changing his story during an interrogation about red plant material discovered in his backpack, the FBI said. He initially claimed ignorance about the samples but later said he was planning to use the material for research at a University of Michigan lab where Jian worked and where Liu previously worked, the FBI said. The FBI said authorities found a scientific article on Liu's phone that was titled, "Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions'. A week before arriving in the US, according to investigators, Liu exchanged messages with Jian, who said, "It's a pity that I still have to work for you". The FBI said Liu replied: "Once this is done, everything else will be easy". Months later, in February, FBI agents visited Jian at the campus lab. She said, "100 per cent no," when asked if she had been assisting Liu with the pathogen at the lab. The FBI said it found a signed statement on her phone expressing her support for the Communist Party of China. Messages between the two in 2024 suggest that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the campus lab before Liu was caught at the Detroit airport, the FBI said. The university does not have federal permits to handle it. The US does not have an extradition treaty with China, which makes Liu's arrest unlikely unless he returns. From Italy to Greece and Portugal, off-label use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss is creating a booming private market—and a brewing public health dilemma. In a matter of just a few years, Europe has witnessed an unprecedented shift in how one class of medications—so-called GLP-1 receptor agonists—is perceived and used. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, these injectable drugs are now fueling a multibillion-euro weight loss industry, driven by private demand, social media hype, and regulatory gaps. The new 'weight loss hysteria' started in the United States, where the prices for the drugs remain highest, but people are still willing to pay $1,300 (€1,142) each month without insurance coverage. The tendency is now exploding in Europe and is not limited to those with medical conditions and obesity, but spreading to those seeking a novel approach to getting a beach-ready body. But what price are we willing to pay for the dream body across Europe? Italy's private market for GLP-1 drugs exploded in 2024, reaching a staggering €26 billion in global anti-obesity drug spending, a more than tenfold increase compared to 2020. According to Pharma Data Factory (PDF), private spending on GLP-1 agonists doubled from €52 million in 2023 to over €115 million in 2024. This surge stems from a rising trend: off-label use of anti-diabetic drugs for weight loss. Since such use is not currently covered by Italy's national health service, most of the spending has come directly from patients' pockets. There is, however, movement at the policy level. The recent Act No 741, which officially recognises obesity as a chronic disease, may pave the way for future reimbursement under Italy's provisions for insurance Essential Levels of Care (LEA). For the time being, however, prescriptions are typically limited to specialists and often require proof of a high body mass index or conditions related to diabetes. The phenomenon is mirrored in Greece, where usage of anti-obesity drugs surged by 82.5% in 2024, with €93 million in total spending. Ozempic's popularity has skyrocketed, and the market has since expanded to include Mounjaro, introduced in November 2024. Despite consumer enthusiasm, Greek regulations remain among the strictest in Europe. Prescribing these drugs for obesity is technically forbidden, except in life-threatening cases. Physicians must prove a diagnosis of diabetes to prescribe them, making legitimate weight-loss prescriptions almost impossible through official channels. But regulatory rigidity has not slowed the underground momentum. With Mounjaro sales now hitting 12,000 units per month, price cuts—such as the 23% drop announced by Pharmaserve-Lilly in February—are expected to further accelerate the drug's spread, whether legal or otherwise. In Portugal, the weight loss drug phenomenon is newer but no less intense. In the first four months of 2025 alone, Portuguese consumers spent nearly €20 million on GLP-1-based injectables like tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy)—both of which are officially approved for obesity treatment. In just two months of 2024, over 10,000 units of tirzepatide were sold, while Wegovy, introduced in April 2025, has racked up sales of 6,800 units in a single month. With each Wegovy injection costing EUR 244.80, the trend shows no signs of slowing. Ozempic, while not officially approved for weight loss, continues to be widely used off-label. Its popularity has led to pharmacy stock shortages and forced Infarmed—the national medicines authority—to initiate drug circuit audits in cooperation with the European Medicines Agency. Reimbursement remains a sticking point. Despite rising interest and usage, Portugal still doesn't subsidise anti-obesity injectables, and the entire cost is borne by individuals—many motivated by influencer culture and celebrity transformations. According to data from consulting firm IQVIA shared with El Confidencial Digital outlet, the Spanish pharmaceutical market saw turnover for weight-loss medications exceed €484 million in 2024—a 65% increase from €293 million in 2023. Units sold jumped from 3.2 million to 4.8 million, reflecting more than 50% growth in volume. Yet despite this surge, the Interministerial Commission on Prices of Medicines and Health Products does not publicly track spending specifically on anti-obesity medications. What is known: Spain's overall retail drug expenditure stands at €412 per capita, 21% below the EU average of €500, according to the 2024 Pharmaceutical Expenditure Report. In Spain, prices for publicly reimbursed drugs are set by the Ministry of Health, and anti-obesity medications must be prescribed and supervised by specialists. This regulatory barrier is meant to ensure appropriate use—but it also limits access, particularly as public demand rises faster than policy adapts. In Germany, demand for weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro is rising fast—yet public coverage remains limited. These GLP-1 medications can cost up to €300 a month, and for most people, the bill comes out of pocket. By law, Germany's public health insurance system excludes drugs used purely for weight loss, classifying them as lifestyle treatments. However, exceptions are emerging. In early 2024, authorities made Wegovy eligible for reimbursement—but only in cases where obesity poses a serious cardiovascular risk. Despite these restrictions, the market is booming. Sales of GLP-1 drugs in Germany are expected to more than double by 2030, reaching over €700 million. With more than half the adult population overweight, pressure is growing on policymakers to expand access. For now, the debate continues—between cost, public health, and who should benefit from these powerful new medications. While some countries restrict access, Poland offers surprisingly open availability. Ozempic is reimbursed for diabetic patients (121.25 Polish złoty or €28 with discount), but can also be obtained via telemedicine after a remote consultation—even without diabetes, depending on the doctor's assessment. The full price of Ozempic is 404 złoty (€94), and demand is high, driven by growing perceptions of the drug as a fast track to weight loss. France has started a formal review that could lead to reimbursement for Mounjaro in limited obesity cases, but for now, neither Mounjaro nor Wegovy are covered under the public system. By contrast, the UK's NHS does cover both drugs, with eligibility limited to patients referred to specialist weight management services. Wegovy became available via the NHS in 2023, and Mounjaro followed with rollout in 2024, under structured programs. Across Europe, public healthcare systems are facing a growing dilemma. Originally designed to manage chronic diseases like diabetes, these systems are now being strained by surging demand for weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. While obesity is increasingly recognised as a chronic condition, regulatory and reimbursement policies have struggled to keep up. This mismatch has created a growing shadow market, where people without official diagnoses pay out of pocket. And buying some of these drugs is actually as easy as buying a detox tea. You just need to lie, click and pay. And then pray that what comes through the post is the real thing. One of the world's most contagious diseases is spreading in Europe. Measles has been on the rise for months. Last year was the worst for measles in Europe and Central Asia since 1997, with more than 120,000 cases reported across the region. Health authorities have warned that cases are likely to rise in the coming months. So far in 2025, about 5,500 measles cases have been reported across the European Union, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Over the past year, many cases have been among unvaccinated children under the age of five, the agency says. Measles is usually a mild or moderately severe illness, but in some cases it can lead to deadly complications. It's extremely contagious, but vaccination is effective at keeping people from getting sick. Here's where cases are highest in 2025, according to ECDC data through the end of April. The vast majority of the EU's measles cases are in Romania, which has reported 3,605 infections as of late April. Three people have died. The country's years-long outbreak has been driven by anti-vaccine sentiment, conflicting health guidance, and a medical system struggling to keep up. In 2023, just 62 per cent of the population was fully vaccinated against measles, far below the 95 per cent threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. There have been 526 measles cases so far this year in France, spurred in part by a "notable increase" in the number of measles cases brought into the country this year, the ECDC said. At least 41 infections have been linked to someone who brought the virus in from Morocco, compared to 26 cases in 2024. In 2023, 93 per cent of people in France were fully vaccinated. But if there are pockets of unvaccinated people in a community, measles can easily take hold. The Netherlands reported 371 measles infections in the first four months of 2025. More than two dozen cases were among people who contracted measles in Morocco or Romania and then came into the Netherlands. Dutch health authorities said there are "clusters" of measles infections, for example, at primary schools or childcare facilities, with most cases among children under the age of 10. But they stressed there is no national measles outbreak. At 81 per cent, the Netherlands has one of the lowest measles vaccination rates in the EU. Only Romania and Cyprus (80 per cent) had lower coverage levels. In Italy, 268 measles infections have been recorded so far in 2025. Overall, in the year ending in late January, it's had more cases than anywhere in the EU except Romania. The country's measles vaccination rate was 85 per cent in 2023, too low to stave off outbreaks. Spain is experiencing outbreaks in several parts of the country, resulting in 251 measles infections this year. Several cases were also imported from outside of Spain, the ECDC said. Notably, 92 per cent of people in Spain were fully vaccinated against measles in 2023, landing the country near herd immunity. In May, the Spanish Ministry of Health encouraged people to check their vaccination status amid the uptick in measles cases both worldwide and within Spain. "The resumption of mobility after the pandemic has increased the risk of imported cases," the ministry said.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
US foiled plan to bring toxic fungus from China to university lab
A Chinese scientist entered the United States last year with a toxic fungus stashed in his backpack, according to federal authorities who filed charges against him and a girlfriend who worked in a university lab. The pathogen is known as Fusarium graminearum, which can attack wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and sicken livestock and people, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in a court filing in Detroit, Michigan. The FBI said a scientific journal describes it as a "potential agroterrorism weapon". On Tuesday, authorities charged Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud. "The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party, are of the gravest national security concerns," US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr said. Jian appeared in court and was returned to jail to await a bond hearing on Thursday. An attorney who was assigned only for her initial appearance declined to comment. In July 2024, Liu was turned away at the Detroit airport and sent back to China after changing his story during an interrogation about red plant material discovered in his backpack, the FBI said. He initially claimed ignorance about the samples but later said he was planning to use the material for research at a University of Michigan lab where Jian worked and where Liu previously worked, the FBI said. The FBI said authorities found a scientific article on Liu's phone that was titled, "Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions'. A week before arriving in the US, according to investigators, Liu exchanged messages with Jian, who said, "It's a pity that I still have to work for you". The FBI said Liu replied: "Once this is done, everything else will be easy". Months later, in February, FBI agents visited Jian at the campus lab. She said, "100 per cent no," when asked if she had been assisting Liu with the pathogen at the lab. The FBI said it found a signed statement on her phone expressing her support for the Communist Party of China. Messages between the two in 2024 suggest that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the campus lab before Liu was caught at the Detroit airport, the FBI said. The university does not have federal permits to handle it. The US does not have an extradition treaty with China, which makes Liu's arrest unlikely unless he returns.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
Blackmail scam aimed at teens leads to arrests by Australian police, FBI
Almost two dozen alleged online sextortion perpetrators have been arrested amid an international probe into the blackmail of teenagers in Australia, the United States and Canada. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) partnered with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other global agencies to arrest 22 sextortion suspects in Nigeria. Two of the alleged offenders were linked to the suicide of a 16-year-old boy in NSW in 2023, police said. Police believe the boy committed suicide after engaging with the scammers online, who threatened to share personal photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500. "The network's scheme, which coerced victims into sharing sexually explicit images before threatening to distribute those images unless payment was made, had devastating consequences," police said. More than 20 teen suicides in the US have been linked to sextortion scams since 2021. The joint operation, Operation Artemis, included two AFP investigators deployed in Nigeria to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects, and help in the identification of perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also offered expert analysis on data seized by foreign law enforcement, police said. In Australia, the ACCCE received a total of 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1554 sextortion-related reports in the 2023 to 2024 financial year. AFP acting commander Ben Moses said the global operation sent a clear message to scammers targeting children online. "Law enforcement is united and determined to find you - no matter where you hide," he said. "These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. "Thanks to the coordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia." Help is available: The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed the online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people, aged 13 to 17, and is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites. The ACCCE has also created a dedicated sextortion help page with resources and information on how to report sextortion. Members of the public who have information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available. Almost two dozen alleged online sextortion perpetrators have been arrested amid an international probe into the blackmail of teenagers in Australia, the United States and Canada. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) partnered with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other global agencies to arrest 22 sextortion suspects in Nigeria. Two of the alleged offenders were linked to the suicide of a 16-year-old boy in NSW in 2023, police said. Police believe the boy committed suicide after engaging with the scammers online, who threatened to share personal photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500. "The network's scheme, which coerced victims into sharing sexually explicit images before threatening to distribute those images unless payment was made, had devastating consequences," police said. More than 20 teen suicides in the US have been linked to sextortion scams since 2021. The joint operation, Operation Artemis, included two AFP investigators deployed in Nigeria to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects, and help in the identification of perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also offered expert analysis on data seized by foreign law enforcement, police said. In Australia, the ACCCE received a total of 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1554 sextortion-related reports in the 2023 to 2024 financial year. AFP acting commander Ben Moses said the global operation sent a clear message to scammers targeting children online. "Law enforcement is united and determined to find you - no matter where you hide," he said. "These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. "Thanks to the coordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia." Help is available: The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed the online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people, aged 13 to 17, and is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites. The ACCCE has also created a dedicated sextortion help page with resources and information on how to report sextortion. Members of the public who have information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available. Almost two dozen alleged online sextortion perpetrators have been arrested amid an international probe into the blackmail of teenagers in Australia, the United States and Canada. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) partnered with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other global agencies to arrest 22 sextortion suspects in Nigeria. Two of the alleged offenders were linked to the suicide of a 16-year-old boy in NSW in 2023, police said. Police believe the boy committed suicide after engaging with the scammers online, who threatened to share personal photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500. "The network's scheme, which coerced victims into sharing sexually explicit images before threatening to distribute those images unless payment was made, had devastating consequences," police said. More than 20 teen suicides in the US have been linked to sextortion scams since 2021. The joint operation, Operation Artemis, included two AFP investigators deployed in Nigeria to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects, and help in the identification of perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also offered expert analysis on data seized by foreign law enforcement, police said. In Australia, the ACCCE received a total of 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1554 sextortion-related reports in the 2023 to 2024 financial year. AFP acting commander Ben Moses said the global operation sent a clear message to scammers targeting children online. "Law enforcement is united and determined to find you - no matter where you hide," he said. "These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. "Thanks to the coordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia." Help is available: The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed the online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people, aged 13 to 17, and is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites. The ACCCE has also created a dedicated sextortion help page with resources and information on how to report sextortion. Members of the public who have information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available. Almost two dozen alleged online sextortion perpetrators have been arrested amid an international probe into the blackmail of teenagers in Australia, the United States and Canada. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) partnered with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other global agencies to arrest 22 sextortion suspects in Nigeria. Two of the alleged offenders were linked to the suicide of a 16-year-old boy in NSW in 2023, police said. Police believe the boy committed suicide after engaging with the scammers online, who threatened to share personal photos with his family and friends if he did not pay $500. "The network's scheme, which coerced victims into sharing sexually explicit images before threatening to distribute those images unless payment was made, had devastating consequences," police said. More than 20 teen suicides in the US have been linked to sextortion scams since 2021. The joint operation, Operation Artemis, included two AFP investigators deployed in Nigeria to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects, and help in the identification of perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also offered expert analysis on data seized by foreign law enforcement, police said. In Australia, the ACCCE received a total of 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1554 sextortion-related reports in the 2023 to 2024 financial year. AFP acting commander Ben Moses said the global operation sent a clear message to scammers targeting children online. "Law enforcement is united and determined to find you - no matter where you hide," he said. "These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. "Thanks to the coordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia." Help is available: The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed the online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people, aged 13 to 17, and is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites. The ACCCE has also created a dedicated sextortion help page with resources and information on how to report sextortion. Members of the public who have information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Six people injured in ‘targeted terror attack' in US: FBI
dpa Washington Six people were injured in an incident that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) called a 'targeted terror attack' in the western state of Colorado on Sunday. FBI special agent Mark Michalek told a press conference the attack was being treated as an act of terrorism. Witnesses told the FBI the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd and shouted 'Free Palestine' during the attack, Michalek said. The attack happened at a regularly scheduled peaceful event, he added. Six people, aged between 67 and 88, were injured and taken to hospital, Michalek said. 'As a result of these preliminary facts it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,' he said. 'Sadly attacks like this are becoming too common across the country. This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across our nation,' Michalek said. 'Our strength as a society comes from our shared values and our commitment to protecting one another ... Any attempt to divide us through fear or harm has no place in Boulder, in Colorado or anywhere in our nation.' FBI Director Kash Patel wrote earlier on X the agency was 'aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado.'
