Latest news with #UniversityofColorado
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Man attacks Colorado crowd with firebombs, 8 people injured
BOULDER, COLORADO: Eight people were injured on Sunday when a 45-year-old man yelled 'Free Palestine' and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in Boulder, Colorado where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza was taking place, authorities said. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and said at least one of them was in a critical condition. '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,' the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said. Michalek named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, who was hospitalized shortly after the attack. Reuters could not immediately locate contact information for him or his family. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a 'targeted terror attack,' and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be 'a hate crime given the group that was targeted.' Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. 'We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody,' he said. The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organized by Run for Their Lives, an organization devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. In a statement, the group said the walks have been held every week since then for the hostages, 'without any violent incidents until today.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the victims were attacked 'simply because they were Jews' and that he trusted U.S. authorities would prosecute 'the cold blood perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law'. 'The antisemitic attacks around the world are a direct result of blood libels against the Jewish state and people, and this must be stopped,' he said. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel, led by President Donald Trump, to brand pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic. His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite U.S. universities that have permitted such demonstrations. In a post to X, a social network, Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa and been allowed to work by the previous administration. He said it was further evidence of the need to 'fully reverse' what he described as 'suicidal migration.' Reuters was not able to independently verify the suspect's immigration status. When asked about Soliman, the Department of Homeland Security said more information would be provided as it became available. Victims burned Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man whom she presumed to be the attacker standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. 'Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'' Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an antisemitic attack. 'This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism,' he said on X. The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel. The shooting fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on social media that it was 'unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder.'
Roya News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Man firebombs pro-"Israeli" rally in US
During a demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, a man allegedly shouted "Free Palestine" and hurled incendiary devices into a crowd gathered to show support for "Israeli" captives still held in Gaza, Reuters reported. Eight people, including four men and four women aged between 52 and 88, were injured in the attack and transported to local hospitals, according to Boulder police. Earlier reports had cited six injuries, including at least one critical case. Federal authorities have called the act deliberate. "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," said Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Denver Field Office. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, was taken into custody after being hospitalized for injuries sustained during the incident. The FBI said it believes he acted alone. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn stated. The attack occurred at the Pearl Street Mall, a well-known pedestrian area near the University of Colorado. The event was organized by Run for Their Lives, a group that has been holding weekly demonstrations since the October 2023. In a statement, the organization said this was the first violent episode they had encountered. FBI Director Kash Patel and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser both labeled the incident as an "act of terrorism", with Weiser adding that it appeared to be a hate crime "given the group that was targeted." Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos. University of Colorado student Brooke Coffman said she saw several women with visible burns. One woman, she recalled, appeared to be severely burned and was wrapped in a flag by someone nearby. Coffman also reported seeing a shirtless man holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting before the incident. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" she said. "Israeli" Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the attack on X, calling it a 'terrible antisemitic terror attack' and 'pure antisemitism.' US Senator Chuck Schumer echoed that sentiment, writing, 'This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism.' Political fallout quickly followed. Stephen Miller, a former deputy chief of staff to Donald Trump, claimed on X that Soliman had overstayed his visa and blamed immigration policies of the previous administration for enabling the attack. "It is further evidence of the need to fully reverse suicidal migration," he wrote. The Department of Homeland Security said it would release more information about Soliman's immigration status as it became available.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Terror attack', 8 injured by makeshift flamethrower
Eight people were injured when a man yelled "Free Palestine" and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in the US city of Boulder in Colorado, where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages in Gaza was taking place. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were taken to hospital oon Sunday, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said at least one of them was in a critical condition. "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," Michalek said. He named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, who was also hospitalised.. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a "targeted terror attack", and Colorado Attorney-General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted". Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said. The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X he was shocked by the "terrible antisemitic terror attack," describing it as "pure antisemitism". His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite US universities that have permitted such demonstrations. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the US over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in anti-Semitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to brand pro-Palestinian protests as anti-Semitic. In a post to X, a social network, Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa. It was further evidence of the need to "fully reverse" what he described as "suicidal migration", he said. Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an anti-Semitic attack. "This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism," he said on X. The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, and someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The shooting fuelled polarisation in the US over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. with reuters Eight people were injured when a man yelled "Free Palestine" and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in the US city of Boulder in Colorado, where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages in Gaza was taking place. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were taken to hospital oon Sunday, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said at least one of them was in a critical condition. "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," Michalek said. He named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, who was also hospitalised.. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a "targeted terror attack", and Colorado Attorney-General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted". Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said. The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X he was shocked by the "terrible antisemitic terror attack," describing it as "pure antisemitism". His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite US universities that have permitted such demonstrations. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the US over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in anti-Semitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to brand pro-Palestinian protests as anti-Semitic. In a post to X, a social network, Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa. It was further evidence of the need to "fully reverse" what he described as "suicidal migration", he said. Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an anti-Semitic attack. "This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism," he said on X. The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, and someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The shooting fuelled polarisation in the US over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. with reuters Eight people were injured when a man yelled "Free Palestine" and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in the US city of Boulder in Colorado, where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages in Gaza was taking place. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were taken to hospital oon Sunday, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said at least one of them was in a critical condition. "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," Michalek said. He named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, who was also hospitalised.. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a "targeted terror attack", and Colorado Attorney-General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted". Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said. The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X he was shocked by the "terrible antisemitic terror attack," describing it as "pure antisemitism". His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite US universities that have permitted such demonstrations. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the US over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in anti-Semitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to brand pro-Palestinian protests as anti-Semitic. In a post to X, a social network, Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa. It was further evidence of the need to "fully reverse" what he described as "suicidal migration", he said. Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an anti-Semitic attack. "This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism," he said on X. The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, and someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The shooting fuelled polarisation in the US over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. with reuters Eight people were injured when a man yelled "Free Palestine" and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in the US city of Boulder in Colorado, where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages in Gaza was taking place. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were taken to hospital oon Sunday, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said at least one of them was in a critical condition. "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," Michalek said. He named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, who was also hospitalised.. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a "targeted terror attack", and Colorado Attorney-General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted". Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said. The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X he was shocked by the "terrible antisemitic terror attack," describing it as "pure antisemitism". His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite US universities that have permitted such demonstrations. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the US over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in anti-Semitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to brand pro-Palestinian protests as anti-Semitic. In a post to X, a social network, Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa. It was further evidence of the need to "fully reverse" what he described as "suicidal migration", he said. Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an anti-Semitic attack. "This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism," he said on X. The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, and someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The shooting fuelled polarisation in the US over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. with reuters
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Six injured in flamethrower attack at Colorado rally for Israeli captives
Listen to article At least six people were injured after a man allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower in an attack on a pro-IIsrael rally in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, Authorities said the incident is being investigated as a potential terror attack and confirmed that the suspect, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been taken into custody. READ MORE: Two Israeli embassy staffers shot dead in Washington The incident occurred in the early afternoon on Pearl Street Mall, a popular shopping and pedestrian area, where members of the volunteer group Run For Their Lives had gathered. According to Mark Michalek, a special agent with the FBI, Soliman shouted 'Free Palestine' before igniting the device. Witnesses and local reports indicated that he may have used Molotov cocktails or a similar incendiary setup, resulting in a burst of flames engulfing multiple victims. Police confirmed the six victims were aged between 67 and 88 years old, all participants in the rally. Two of the wounded were airlifted to nearby hospitals with serious burn injuries, while the remaining were treated on site or at local facilities. Eyewitness Brooke Coffman, 19, a University of Colorado student, said she saw at least four women on the ground with burns. 'One woman looked burned all over and someone had wrapped her in a flag,' she said. 'Everybody was yelling, 'Get water, get water!' There was panic,' she added. The suspect was also injured and transported to hospital. Authorities have not yet detailed the extent of his injuries or whether he has legal representation. Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn urged the public to avoid speculation while interviews with witnesses continued. 'It would be irresponsible to assume motive while our investigation is still ongoing,' he said. 'This was a peaceful gathering, and the injuries are consistent with them having been set on fire.' 'This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street, and this act was unacceptable,' Redfearn added. 'I ask that you join me in thinking about the victims, the families of those victims, and everyone involved in this tragedy.' Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, said he was closely monitoring the investigation and condemned the incident. 'Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable,' Polis said in a statement. The incident comes amid a period of heightened polarisation in the United States over the ongoing war on Gaza. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel's war on Gaza, President Donald Trump, have sought to characterise pro-Palestinian demonstrations as antisemitic. READ: Israel approves 22 new settlements in West Bank His administration has been accused of detaining anti-war protesters without charge and withholding federal funding from elite universities that have allowed such protests on campus. Sunday's rally was one of a series of weekly events organised by Run For Their Lives, a volunteer group advocating for the release of Israeli captives. Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said locals identified the suspect as carrying two glass bottles believed to contain petrol. 'He appeared shirtless, shouting in the crowd, and threw what people believe were petrol bombs,' Fisher said. The Jewish community in Boulder issued a joint statement condemning the assault. '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,' the statement said. 'We stand in solidarity with those injured and their families.' No formal charges have yet been announced, but federal officials have vowed to prosecute the suspect to the full extent of the law. The FBI, local police and counterterrorism units are continuing their investigation. READ MORE: 31 dead in Israeli gunfire near aid site Israel's war on Gaza The total death toll from Israel's war on Gaza has risen to 54,418 killed and 124,190 injured since October 7, 2023, the ministry said, Al Jazeera reported. Israel has killed 4,149 Palestinians and injured 12,149 since breaking two-month-old ceasefire on March 18 this year. Israel's atrocities have displaced around 90% of Gaza's estimated 2 million residents, created a severe hunger crisis, and caused widespread destruction across the territory. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Eight injured in firebomb attack on Colorado rally
Eight people were injured when a 45-year-old man yelled "Free Palestine" and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in Boulder, Colorado where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza was taking place, US authorities said. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and said at least one of them was in a critical condition. "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," the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said. Mr Michalek named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, aged 45, who was hospitalised shortly after the attack. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a "targeted terror attack," and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted." We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available. @FBI — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 1, 2025 Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said. "This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street and this act was unacceptable," Mr Redfearn said at an earlier press conference. "I ask that you join me in thinking about the victims, the families of those victims, and everyone involved in this tragedy." The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trumpto brand pro-Palestinian protests as anti-Semitic. His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite US universities that have permitted such demonstrations. Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man whom she presumed to be the attacker standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" Ms Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said he was closely monitoring the situation. "This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to anti-Semitism." The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington DC. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights anti-Semitism and supports Israel. The shooting fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on social media that it was "unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder".
