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Multiple people were injured after a man shouting “free Palestine” tossed Molotov cocktails at a gathering in support of Israeli hostages in Colorado, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Police said eight people – aged 52 to 88 – were injured in the attack at the Pearl Street Mall, a popular outdoor space in Boulder, about 30 miles (48km) from Denver.<\/p>\n
The FBI called it a suspected terror attack and said the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower, Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices. <\/p>\n
Footage of the attack shows the suspect, who was shirtless, screaming at the group and had what appears to be Molotov cocktails in each hand when he was arrested. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The attack unfolded during a weekly scheduled demonstration put on by Run for Their Lives, a pro-Israeli group that that holds walks in the outdoor pedestrian mall in solidarity with Israeli hostages in Gaza. <\/p>\n
Police got calls around 13:26 local time (20:26 BST) about a man with a weapon and people being set on fire, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said at a news conference. <\/p>\n
Officers who responded found multiple people injured, including those with burns.<\/p>\n
Witnesses told authorities that the suspect used a “makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd,” said Mark Michalek, who heads the FBI’s Denver office. <\/p>\n
Redfearn added those devices included Molotov cocktails being tossed at the crowd. <\/p>\n
Michalek identified the suspect as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45.<\/p>\n
Soliman is an Egyptian national, government officials told the BBC’s US partner CBS News. <\/p>\n
In 2022, Soliman arrived in California on a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023, multiple sources have told CBS News. He had been living in Colorado Springs.<\/p>\n
Footage that appeared to be from the attack showed a chaotic scene: smoke filling the air, people running in multiple directions, spots of grass on fire and people injured on the ground.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In images and videos posted online, but not yet verified by the BBC, a man appearing to be the suspect is seen without a shirt and holding bottles with liquid with a piece of red cloth inside. He can be heard yelling at the crowd and appears to be advancing on them as some rush to flee. <\/p>\n As he screams, one woman is on the ground and appears injured. People surround her and one man pours water on her body. <\/p>\n Footage shows police rushing to the scene and arresting the suspect. Police say he was taken to the hospital with injuries. <\/p>\n “It is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” Mr Michalek said. “Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country.” <\/p>\n The attack is the second high-profile act of violence in the US in the last two weeks related to the conflict in Gaza. <\/p>\n