The FBI says an attack in Boulder, Colorado, that injured eight 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 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.
ReutersWho is the suspect?
The suspect has been named as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who was taken to hospital shortly after the attack.
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 45-year-old was an Egyptian national, government officials confirmed to the BBC’s broadcast partner, CBS in Colorado.
In 2022, Soliman arrived in California on a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023, multiple sources have told CBS News. He had recently been living in Colorado Springs.
Who are the victims?
There are eight victims, aged between 52 and 88. Four are woman and four are men. 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 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.
What is happening now?
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.”
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