Boulder attack updates: Suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman booked on charges after 'act of terror' with 'makeshift flamethrower'
Share and Follow

BOULDER, Colo. — A suspect was booked on a range of charges after allegedly carrying out an “act of terrorism” on a pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday afternoon, using what police are describing as a “makeshift flamethrower” against a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators.

Eight people were hospitalized with burns, Boulder Police said in an update Sunday night. The victims’ ages ranged from 52 to 88, and they were all taken to local hospitals, police said.

One victim was in critical condition, police said.

The suspect, identified by the FBI as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was allegedly heard yelling “Free Palestine” while using a “makeshift flamethrower” and throwing an incendiary device at the crowd, according to Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.

Soliman was taken into custody without incident and transferred to a hospital where he was examined, police said.

Soliman is being held on $10,000,000 bond, according to the Boulder County Jail, which listed a range of felony charges against him, including use of an incendiary device.

FBI Director Kash Patel said officials were investigating the incident as a “targeted terror attack.” The FBI believes the attack was “ideologically motivated violence,” according to “early information, the evidence and witness accounts,” Deputy Director Dan Bongino added.

The attack in Boulder comes at a time of heightened violence, including high-profile incidents against the Jewish community.

The pro-Israel demonstration was a Run for Their Lives walk, aiming to raise awareness about the remaining hostages in Gaza. The organization hosts global run and walk events, “calling for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas,” according to its website.

Leo Terrell, head of the antisemitism task force at the Justice Department, said that an “incendiary device” was thrown at participants in the walk.

“This was not an isolated incident,” Terrell continued. “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,” he said.

The attack happened on the eve of a Jewish holiday, Shavuot, “making it all the more chilling and cruel,” Terrell said.

A spokesperson for the organization, Miri Kornfeld, said in a statement to ABC News said a man who was leading the walk described the scene as “the floor burning beneath them.”

All upcoming Run for Their Lives events have been canceled until further notice, Kornfeld said, who was not at the walk in Boulder.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the “targeted terror attack,” a senior White House official told ABC News.

“Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote on X, describing the incident as a “heinous act of terror.”

Boulder Police, while calling the attack a “tragedy” and “unacceptable,” initially stopped short of calling the incident terrorism and did not want to speculate on the suspect’s move, according to Chief Stephen Redfearn.

The incident occurred just before 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the intersection of 13th Street and Pearl Street.

Police responded to reports of a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire.

When they arrived, there were multiple victims at the scene with injuries consistent with burns, police said. Police said four of the victims were taken to Boulder Community Hospital and two others were airlifted to a burn unit in Aurora. Apart from the victim with serious injuries, the others were believed to be more minor, Redfearn said.

Last month, two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed in Washington, D.C. in what was labeled as an “act of terror.”

The shooting sparked outrage and has been condemned as an “unspeakable” act of antisemitism after officials said the suspect, who is in custody, shouted “free, free Palestine” following the shooting.

In April, the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, was targeted by an arsonist who allegedly made two Molotov cocktails from Heineken bottles he had at home and threw them inside the governor’s mansion after breaking a window with a hammer, according to court documents.

The attack happened after the governor had posted about celebrating Passover with his family.

Copyright © 2025 ABC News Internet Ventures.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Mitt Romney's sister-in-law left behind note before her death

Revealing Note Discovered: Mitt Romney’s Sister-in-Law’s Final Message

Before her tragic fall from a parking structure roof near a California…
NYPD detectives mistaken for ICE, treated rudely by hospital staff after scuffle with suspect

Misidentification Chaos: NYPD Detectives Confused for ICE Agents, Face Unexpected Hospital Drama

Last week, a group of New York City detectives experienced an unexpected…
Rob Steele listens a prosecutor describes his fiancee Mary Marshalls

North Carolina Teen Admits Guilt in Tragic Shooting, 5 Lives Lost

An 18-year-old has admitted guilt to murder and other charges in connection…
Trump announces framework for Greenland deal, cancels future tariffs (Video)

Trump Unveils Greenland Deal Framework and Scraps Future Tariffs: Watch the Announcement

In an unexpected move, former President Donald Trump has unveiled a preliminary…
The rumored secrets behind Vanessa Trump's glowing transformation

Unveiling Vanessa Trump’s Stunning Transformation: Discover the Beauty Secrets Behind Her Radiant Glow

Vanessa Trump dazzled at a recent celebration for her boyfriend, Tiger Woods,…
South Shore immigration raid in Chicago under new investigation by Illinois Department of Human Rights

Illinois Department of Human Rights Launches Investigation into South Shore Immigration Raid in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — Authorities have launched a fresh probe into a contentious…
Gavin Newsom is DENIED entry to Trump's Davos clubhouse

Gavin Newsom Blocked from Entering Trump’s Exclusive Davos Gathering

Donald Trump has banned California Governor Gavin Newsom from entering the USA…
Retired colonel points to secret non-human recovery mission in Brazil

Former Colonel Reveals Covert Non-Human Retrieval Operation in Brazil

A former US Air Force fighter pilot has come forward with claims…