The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating after a man tossed incendiary devices at a group of Pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. Several injuries have been reported and a suspect is in custody.
At about 4:30 p.m., the Boulder Police Department said it was responding to a report of an attack near Pearl Street Mall with reports of several victims.
“We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a statement on X. “Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available.”
Witnesses from the scene told CBS News that the suspect used Molotov cocktails to attack people walking for “Run for Their Lives,” a grassroots organization that facilitates global events to call for the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas.
Footage from the scene shows a shirtless, middle aged man holding two Molotov cocktails while flames continued to burn in the grass around him. The suspect appeared to be yelling about the Israel-Palestine conflict while accusing victims and attendees of “killing children.”
Onlookers could be seen using water from a nearby fountain to treat the victims while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.
Police initially evacuated three blocks surrounding the area before expanding the evacuation area just before 5:15 p.m.
“When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims that were injured with injuries consistent with burns and other injuries. While our officers and paramedics and fire department personnel got those victims quickly to the hospital, our officers were pointed out, a suspect was pointed out to our officers on the scene,” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said in a brief press conference.
The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was arrested without incident after suffering minor injuries himself.
“This area is not safe yet. We’re dealing with a vehicle of interest. We’re dealing with a large area that we are making sure it’s safe before we allow people to come back into the scene,” Redfearn added.
The police chief further stated that a motive had not yet been determined and contradicted FBI Director Patel by refusing the classify the attack as an act of terrorism.
