On June 1 at around 1:30 p.m., the Boulder Police Department responded to the outdoor Pearl Street Mall for a “report of an attack on a group of individuals” at 1325 Pearl Street. The suspect was arrested at 1:32 p.m., according to the city, and has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, of El Paso County. “He was taken to the hospital to be medically evaluated before being booked in the Boulder County Jail on multiple charges,” the city said.
The city said that the suspect used a “makeshift flame thrower” and threw an “incendiary device” into the crowd. The city said that witnesses reported that the suspect yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack.
Eight individuals were injured in the attack: four women and four men ages 52 to 88. The names of the victims have not been released. The injured individuals were taken to Denver metro hospitals, according to the City of Boulder. The city said that the individuals were “walking in a regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful event.” CBS reported that the event was a “walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza.” The BBC reported that the organization that organized the event is Run for Their Lives, which raises awareness for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
The BBC also reported that Soliman told police after he was arrested that he wanted to "kill all Zionist people", according to court documents.
The city said that the FBI is investigating the attack as a “targeted act of terrorism” and is working with the Boulder Police Department to process the crime scene, interview witnesses, and gather additional evidence. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with digital media from the incident (videos, social media posts, digital recordings) is asked to upload that media at www.fbi.gov/boulderattack.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said that a court proceeding for Soliman will take place today, June 2, at 1:30 p.m. within the courtroom located in the Boulder County Jail at 3200 Airport Road in Boulder. The court proceeding will be livestreamed.
