Several people sustained serious burns and injuries on Sunday during a shocking attack at a peaceful pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado. According to U.S. authorities, the act is being treated as a “targeted terror attack” with possible antisemitic motives.
The attack occurred during a weekly gathering called the “Boulder Run for Their Lives,” organized by members of the Jewish community to raise awareness for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Eyewitnesses said the attacker, a shirtless man, appeared at the rally around 1:30 p.m. and threw what resembled Molotov cocktails at the crowd. Videos from the scene show fire erupting on a grassy area, with thick black smoke rising. The suspect was also heard shouting “End Zionists,” “Palestine is Free,” and “They are killers!” as chaos broke out.
Emergency services arrived quickly at the scene. Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn told reporters that “multiple victims” had injuries consistent with burns and were immediately taken to hospital. The number of injured has not yet been confirmed, but officials said several required urgent medical care.
Redfearn added that officers took the suspect into custody without further incident. He noted that while it is still early in the investigation, initial reports indicated the use of firebombs and targeted violence.
“We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado,” said FBI Chief Kash Patel on social media. The FBI is leading the investigation alongside local law enforcement.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent Jewish civil rights group, described the attack as antisemitic and condemned the violence. “Today, during a peaceful walk on Pearl Street in Boulder to raise awareness for the hostages still in Gaza, our community was targeted in a violent, antisemitic attack,” the ADL said.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, expressed outrage. “Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border—it is already burning the streets of America,” he stated.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also responded, calling the incident a “targeted terror attack” and affirming that “terror has no place in our great country.”
The Israeli-American Council described the event as a clear attempt to silence the Jewish community through fear and violence. “This is an attack on all of us — and we will not stay silent,” the council said.
This violent act comes amid growing concerns over rising antisemitism and tensions related to the Israel-Gaza war. Less than two weeks ago, two Israeli embassy staff were shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. The suspect reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during that attack.
So far, the identity of the Boulder suspect has not been publicly released, and authorities are still piecing together his background and possible affiliations.
Meanwhile, Jewish communities across the U.S. are calling for stronger security measures during public events, as fear and outrage continue to rise following Sunday’s terrifying attack.
