Boulder Firebomb Attack Kills 10 in U.S., Reignites Global Anxiety Over Ideological Violence, Suspect Arrested
In a chilling eruption of ideologically motivated violence, 10 people were killed and eight others injured in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, when a man armed with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails attacked a peaceful demonstration supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The incident is being investigated as a domestic terror attack by the FBI.
The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was taken into custody at the scene and is currently being treated for burn injuries after reportedly setting himself ablaze during the attack. He faces multiple terrorism-related charges, with federal authorities confirming they are treating the case as an act of ideologically motivated extremism.
“This was a brutal and deliberate assault on peaceful demonstrators. Our resolve is firm—this act will not go unpunished,” said Mark Michalek, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Office.
The attack unfolded at the Pearl Street pedestrian mall—a normally tranquil four-block shopping and tourism district in downtown Boulder—as members of the volunteer group Run For Their Lives concluded a weekly march calling attention to Israeli civilians still held hostage by Hamas.
Flashpoint at Home, Rooted in Global Tensions
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying moment Soliman, allegedly shouting “Free Palestine,” launched an incendiary device into the crowd, igniting at least one victim in flames. Chaos followed as civilians scrambled to douse the fire and treat the wounded while law enforcement moved in.
The assault coincided with the start of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, and came less than a week after another suspect—also shouting pro-Palestinian slogans—fatally shot two Israeli embassy staffers outside a museum in Washington, D.C.
Though U.S. authorities have not officially linked the two events, the crescendo of antisemitic violence tied to the war in Gaza has heightened fears across Jewish communities nationwide. In New York, police immediately increased security at synagogues and community centers.
The Human Toll and Community Trauma
The eight injured ranged from 52 to 88 years old, with several hospitalized with burn wounds. In footage captured by a nearby diner, witnesses can be heard screaming as civilians rush to help a woman who caught fire.
“It was like a scene out of a war zone,” said Alex Osante, a tourist from San Diego who captured key moments of the attack on video. “There was a pop, then a boom, then people on fire.”
Lynn Segal, 72, one of approximately 20 attendees, described seeing a “rope of fire” rip across the group. She expressed concern that her pro-Palestinian shirt would cause her to be mistaken for an accomplice—underscoring the complex identities and political nuances that now permeate nearly every public gathering linked to the Middle East.
“There were people burning, and I wanted to help. But I didn’t want to be associated with the perpetrator,” she said.
A Global Flashpoint, Local Consequences
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Monday condemning the Boulder attack and offering prayers for the victims.
“This was a vicious terror attack against people gathered peacefully in solidarity with the hostages of Hamas. It was an attack not just on Jews, but on the very ideals of democratic expression,” Netanyahu stated.
The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security echoed the gravity of the event, with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino affirming the agency’s position:
“We are treating this as an act of domestic terrorism fueled by ideological hatred. These threats to American communities will be met with the full weight of the law.”
Geopolitical Overhang: The Gaza-Israel Conflict’s Expanding Reach
The attack underscores how the war in Gaza—now nearing its ninth month—has metastasized into a global flashpoint, stirring passions far beyond the Middle East. As of now:
- Over 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led incursion.
- Roughly 250 hostages were taken; 58 are believed to still be held.
- Israel’s military response has resulted in 54,000 deaths in Gaza, mostly women and children, per health officials in the enclave.
The moral, diplomatic, and humanitarian complexities of this war have ignited fierce debate, triggering an unprecedented wave of protests, hate crimes, and politically charged violence—even in regions like Boulder, far removed from the war’s immediate epicenter.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
This attack represents more than a singular act of terrorism—it is a bellwether of a dangerous new frontier in domestic extremism, where foreign policy fault lines intersect with internal divisions. Business, religious, and civic institutions must now reckon with geopolitical tensions spilling into their communities and operations.
