Latest news with #targetedviolence
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about the Boulder, Colorado attack
The FBI says an attack in Boulder, Colorado, that injured six people was a "targeted act of violence", and they are investigating it as an "act of terrorism". A group of people had gathered for a "regularly scheduled, weekly, peaceful event", which the BBC understands was organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation that raises awareness for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The FBI said that, according to witnesses, a suspect threw an incendiary device into the group of people, and used a "makeshift flamethrower" to attack them. They said a suspect had been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45. Soliman was taken to hospital shortly after the attack, the FBI said. Police said they were "fairly confident" that they had the lone suspect in custody. There was no evidence the suspect was connected to a wider group. "The suspect was heard to yell 'Free Palestine' during the attack," said special agent in charge of the Denver field office of the FBI, Mark Michalek. "We're assisting Boulder police and providing technical, analytic and additional forensic resources. 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. There are six victims, aged between 67 and 88. All of them have been taken to hospitals with burns and other injuries. The injuries range from "minor" to "very serious". At least one of the victims is seriously injured. Run for their Lives holds walking and running events around the world calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to their website. It says its events are not protests, but "peaceful walks". Their website says there are currently 230 active groups around the world, with the majority in North America and Europe. The groups meet once a week for a 1km walk wearing red T-shirts. They also carry national flags of the citizens who are among the hostages still held in Gaza. The Run for their Lives Instagram account has more than 6,000 followers. Their Facebook group has more than 2,000 members. The movement was started by a group of Israelis in California, but local events are "independently led", according to their website. Authorities said they would not hold another press conference on Sunday. Police said their teams were still working in the area. The district attorney for Boulder County, Michael Dougherty, said: "We are fully united 100% in making sure the charges we bring hold the attacker fully accountable." The Boulder Courthouse will remain closed on Monday. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said her department is working with "interagency partners, including the FBI", and would share more information when it becomes available. "We are praying for the victims and their families. This violence must stop," she said. Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, released a statement saying he was "shocked" by the incident, which he called "pure antisemitism". The Jewish community in Boulder released a statement saying: "Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured," Boulder's Jewish Community said in a joint statement. "When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken." Six hurt in Colorado fire attack after suspect shouts 'free Palestine'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about the Boulder, Colorado attack
The FBI says an attack in Boulder, Colorado, that injured six people was a "targeted act of violence", and they are investigating it as an "act of terrorism". A group of people had gathered for a "regularly scheduled, weekly, peaceful event", which the BBC understands was organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation that raises awareness for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The FBI said that, according to witnesses, a suspect threw an incendiary device into the group of people, and used a "makeshift flamethrower" to attack them. They said a suspect had been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45. Soliman was taken to hospital shortly after the attack, the FBI said. Police said they were "fairly confident" that they had the lone suspect in custody. There was no evidence the suspect was connected to a wider group. "The suspect was heard to yell 'Free Palestine' during the attack," said special agent in charge of the Denver field office of the FBI, Mark Michalek. "We're assisting Boulder police and providing technical, analytic and additional forensic resources. 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. There are six victims, aged between 67 and 88. All of them have been taken to hospitals with burns and other injuries. The injuries range from "minor" to "very serious". At least one of the victims is seriously injured. Run for their Lives holds walking and running events around the world calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to their website. It says its events are not protests, but "peaceful walks". Their website says there are currently 230 active groups around the world, with the majority in North America and Europe. The groups meet once a week for a 1km walk wearing red T-shirts. They also carry national flags of the citizens who are among the hostages still held in Gaza. The Run for their Lives Instagram account has more than 6,000 followers. Their Facebook group has more than 2,000 members. The movement was started by a group of Israelis in California, but local events are "independently led", according to their website. Authorities said they would not hold another press conference on Sunday. Police said their teams were still working in the area. The district attorney for Boulder County, Michael Dougherty, said: "We are fully united 100% in making sure the charges we bring hold the attacker fully accountable." The Boulder Courthouse will remain closed on Monday. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said her department is working with "interagency partners, including the FBI", and would share more information when it becomes available. "We are praying for the victims and their families. This violence must stop," she said. Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, released a statement saying he was "shocked" by the incident, which he called "pure antisemitism". The Jewish community in Boulder released a statement saying: "Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured," Boulder's Jewish Community said in a joint statement. "When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken." Six hurt in Colorado fire attack after suspect shouts 'free Palestine'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
What we know about Boulder, Colorado attack at Israeli rally
The FBI says an attack in Boulder, Colorado, that injured six people was a "targeted act of violence", and they are investigating it as an "act of terrorism". What happened? A group of people had gathered for a "regularly scheduled, weekly, peaceful event", which the BBC understands was organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation that raises awareness for Israeli hostages still held in FBI said that, according to witnesses, a suspect threw an incendiary device into the group of people, and used a "makeshift flamethrower" to attack them. They said a suspect had been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45. Soliman was taken to hospital shortly after the attack, the FBI said. Police said they were "fairly confident" that they had the lone suspect in custody. There was no evidence the suspect was connected to a wider group."The suspect was heard to yell 'Free Palestine' during the attack," said special agent in charge of the Denver field office of the FBI, Mark Michalek. "We're assisting Boulder police and providing technical, analytic and additional forensic resources. 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. Who are the victims? There are six victims, aged between 67 and 88. All of them have been taken to hospitals with burns and other injuries. The injuries range from "minor" to "very serious". At least one of the victims is seriously injured. What is Run for their Lives? Run for their Lives holds walking and running events around the world calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to their says its events are not protests, but "peaceful walks".Their website says there are currently 230 active groups around the world, with the majority in North America and groups meet once a week for a 1km walk wearing red T-shirts. They also carry national flags of the citizens who are among the hostages still held in Run for their Lives Instagram account has more than 6,000 followers. Their Facebook group has more than 2,000 movement was started by a group of Israelis in California, but local events are "independently led", according to their website. What is happening now? Authorities said they would not hold another press conference on Sunday. Police said their teams were still working in the district attorney for Boulder County, Michael Dougherty, said: "We are fully united 100% in making sure the charges we bring hold the attacker fully accountable."The Boulder Courthouse will remain closed on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said her department is working with "interagency partners, including the FBI", and would share more information when it becomes available."We are praying for the victims and their families. This violence must stop," she said. Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, released a statement saying he was "shocked" by the incident, which he called "pure antisemitism".The Jewish community in Boulder released a statement saying: "Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured," Boulder's Jewish Community said in a joint statement. "When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken."
Fox News
28-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
FBI to probe claims of 'targeted violence' against religious groups after evangelicals' protest in Seattle
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Tuesday he had requested an investigation into allegations of "targeted violence" against religious groups after an evangelical conservative group held a rally at Seattle City Hall in response to the mayor blaming Christians for igniting a weekend demonstration that turned violent. "We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion," Bongino wrote on X. The Christians' "Rattle in Seattle" demonstration began at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the 4th Avenue steps of City Hall in downtown Seattle, where counter-protesters were also present, according to Fox 13. A total of eight people were arrested for assault during dueling demonstrations as of 8 p.m., according to Seattle Police. No injuries were reported. "Two opposing groups gathered along 4th Avenue. Streets around the dueling demonstrations were shut down for several hours, but reopened just before 8 p.m.," police said in a press release. Fox News Digital has reached out to Seattle Police for possible updated arrest totals. Tuesday's protest comes after a demonstration on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park during MayDayUSA's "Don't Mess With Our Kids" rally and a pro-LGBTQ counter-protest. Police made 23 arrests at that demonstration after violence broke out when event organizers, attendees and counter-protesters converged. Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, released a statement after the weekend demonstration, blaming the Christian rally and infiltrating "anarchists" for the violence breaking out at the counter-protest. "Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice," the mayor said at the time. "Today's far-right rally was held here for this very reason – to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values, in the heart of Seattle's most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood." "Anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did," he continued. The mayor also released respective statements on Tuesday from several of the city's Christian and Jewish leaders siding with Harrell and condemning the weekend "Rattle in Seattle" protest. "Mayday's desire is to wrap their personal hate, fear, and bigotry in Christian speak. It won't work," Rev. Dr. Patricia L. Hunter, a Baptist pastor, said in a statement. "The call of Jesus to his followers was to first love God and secondly to love our neighbors. In no way does the ideology or bad theology of this fringe group embody the love of God we are to exhibit. Those of us who actually follow the Jesus of the New Testament work to make the welcome tent bigger so that all God's children regardless of sexuality or sexual identity are welcome at the table of love, justice, grace, and mercy." Organizers of the "Rattle in Seattle" protest took issue with the mayor's statement, which they said showed religious bigotry and an attack on their First Amendment rights, and held the rally on Tuesday to protest his remarks. "Following the MayDay USA worship event at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, Mayor Harrell had the audacity to issue a press release blaming Christians for the premediated violence of Antifa which resulted in the hospitalization of Seattle Police Department personnel and the arrest of 23 Antifa agitators," the organizers said in a statement. "Under Mayor Harrell's leadership, the city of Seattle has continued its spiral into lawlessness and dysfunction while the First Amendment rights of citizens to peacefully assemble has been disregarded." Fox News Digital has out to the mayor's office for comment.
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Israeli embassy staff killed: Suspect Elias Rodriguez in custody
Authorities took a suspect into custody after two Israeli embassy staffers, a young couple about to be engaged, were killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said a man shot at a group of four people with a handgun, hitting both the victims. He was seen pacing outside the museum prior to the shooting. The single suspect, tentatively identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine," after being taken into custody, she said. "After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by event security," Smith said. "Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offense." The suspect had no previous contact with police, she added. Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the US, told reporters the young man killed had "purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem." Attorney General Pam Bondi and US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro went to the scene after the shooting. Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino said the suspect was being interviewed by the police and the FBI. "Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence," he said in a post on X. "Our FBI team is fully engaged and we will get you answers as soon as we can, without compromising additional leads." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was shocked by the killings. "My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short by a heinous anti-Semitic murderer," he said in a statement. "I have instructed to strengthen security arrangements at Israeli missions around the world and security for state representatives." US President Donald Trump also condemned the shooting. Diplomats reception The event at the Capital Jewish Museum was held by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that supports Israel and confronts antisemitism, according to its website. An online invitation to the event called it the Young Diplomats Reception, describing it as a bringing together of Jewish professionals between the ages of 22 and 45 and the Washington diplomatic community. Despite the late hour, several people gathered at the scene of the shooting, including one who knelt on the ground at the intersection with an improvised Israeli flag draped over his shoulders. Aaron Shemtov, who is studying at a rabbinical college in California, said he came to the museum to show support after hearing of the shooting. "When a member of the community gets murdered and gets killed for who he is, we stand proud, we stand strong, and we never give up," Shemtov said. Rabbi Levi Shemtov, who was also at the scene, said the couple had attended his Washington synagogue occasionally. "It's very sad to see that instead of these people coming to the ultimate celebration of their life - they were about to get engaged - they get shot dead in the street just because of who they are," said the rabbi, who is also the executive vice president of the Jewish group American Friends of Lubavitch.
