Firebombing attack on Americans demonstrating for hostage release

JTA - Six people were burned and injured in Boulder, Colorado, at least one critically, in a firebombing attack on people who had gathered to draw attention to the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The FBI said the victims were aged 55 to 88. The FBI also released the name and age of the suspect, who they said they had in custody. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was said to have yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack and to have used a “makeshift flamethrower,” according to the FBI, which said it is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. Soliman was also injured in the attack, authorities said.

The head of the Boulder Police Department promised to “hold the attacker fully accountable.”

The event had been staged by Run For Their Lives, an organization that hosts regular runs and walks across the country to draw attention to Israeli hostages and is affiliated with hostage families and their advocates in Israel. On its website, the group advises participants concerned about their safety  to “focus on humanity” in their demonstrations, “don’t protest,” and to fly flags from all countries that have hostages in Gaza. The Boulder march had been staged weekly, organizers said.

Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America, said in a statement that the attack “is another example of a wave of domestic terror attacks aimed at the Jewish community.” He urged President Donald Trump and Congress to allocate more funding for security at Jewish institutions.

An eyewitness account posted by a pro-Israel X user said that most of the victims were in their 70s. Video from the scene shared on social media showed smoke and people on the ground. Screaming was audible. Another video showed a shirtless man, holding spray bottles, yelling, “End Zionists.”