Man Attacks Pro-Israel Protesters With Fire Bombs In US, Yells 'Free Palestine'

Six people were injured in a suspected terror attack at an outdoor pedestrian mall in Colorado on Sunday, where a group had gathered to raise awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The FBI has described the incident as a "targeted act of ideologically motivated violence".

Suspect Yelled 'Free Palestine', Used Improvised Flamethrower

The attacker, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” and used what authorities described as a makeshift flamethrower during the assault. Soliman was apprehended on-site and is currently hospitalised for undisclosed injuries.

“He’s right there. He’s throwing Molotov cocktails,” a witness can be heard yelling in video footage from the scene, as police advanced on a shirtless man carrying containers.

No charges have been formally announced yet, but officials have indicated that Soliman will be “held fully accountable.”

Attack Targets Vigil For Israeli Hostages

The incident occurred at Pearl Street Mall, a popular four-block pedestrian zone in downtown Boulder, during a demonstration by Run For Their Lives, a volunteer group advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The vigil was part of broader civilian efforts to maintain public attention on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The FBI said it is treating the event as a terrorist attack, and the Justice Department condemned it as a “needless act of violence”, echoing growing concern over antisemitic threats and attacks in the United States.

"This act of terror is being investigated as ideologically motivated violence," said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in a statement posted on X. “We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it," he added.

The Boulder incident follows a string of politically charged attacks in the U.S., including the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., earlier this month by a Chicago man who reportedly said, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”

Federal agencies have been on high alert amid an uptick in hate-motivated violence linked to the Middle East conflict, with the FBI and DOJ closely monitoring such incidents under domestic terrorism and hate crime statutes.

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