On Sunday (June 1), during a rally in support of Israeli hostages held in Boulder, Colorado, a man launched a fire attack, resulting in multiple injuries.
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn stated that the attack occurred around 1:26 pm local time near the Pearl Street Mall. Authorities received reports of a man using Molotov cocktails to set fires.
The identity of the man has not been confirmed yet, but he was arrested on the spot without any conflict.
Redfearn mentioned that people were urged to stay away from the city center as police were inspecting a vehicle potentially linked to the attack.
“This area is still not secure,” the chief said during a press conference held at 4:00 pm.
Initially, the police evacuated three surrounding blocks and later expanded the evacuation area.
“It is still too early to speculate on the motive,” he said, adding that the suspect was taken to the hospital.
Redfearn also mentioned that multiple individuals were injured in the attack, with injuries ranging from severe to minor.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on the social media platform X that this was a “targeted terrorist attack.”
“Our agents and local law enforcement have arrived on the scene, and we will share updates as we gather more information,” he added.
Videos from the scene showed individuals being carried away on stretchers. Photos taken by bystanders depicted police arresting a shirtless man at the scene.
The rally was organized by the grassroots organization “Run For Their Lives” in solidarity with the hostages and their families, pleading for their release rather than as a protest.
The organization advocates for global running or walking events to raise awareness about the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Since the Hamas raid on Israel on October 7, 2023, Boulder has regularly held demonstrations starting from Thanksgiving of the same year, sometimes on a weekly basis.