COLORADO — Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has condemned
the violent attack on a group of Jewish demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, as
an act of terrorism following an incident where a man hurled Molotov cocktails
at participants of a peaceful rally calling for the safe return of hostages
from Hamas captivity.
The attacker, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry
Soliman, was taken into custody following the assault, which left several
individuals injured.
The protest, organised by the group Run For Their Lives,
was held near the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall and was intended to
raise awareness about the hostages still being held in Gaza amid the ongoing
war between Israel and Hamas.
In a post on X, Ambassador Danon wrote, "Terrorism
against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border -- it is already burning the
streets of America. Today, in Boulder, Colorado, Jewish people marched with a
moral and humane demand: to return the hostages."
"In response, the Jewish protesters were brutally
attacked, with an attacker throwing Molotov cocktails at them. Make no mistake
– this is not a political protest, this is terrorism. The time for statements
is over. It is time for concrete action to be taken against the instigators
wherever they may be," he added.
According to eyewitnesses and video footage circulating
online, Soliman was seen shouting "Free Palestine" and "End
Zionists… they are terrorists" as he used a makeshift flamethrower on
demonstrators.
Wearing only jeans and sunglasses, the suspect appeared
to directly target the peaceful crowd, raising fears of escalating hate crimes
linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Fox News reported, citing sources from the Department of
Homeland Security and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, that Soliman is
an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa after entering the United
States during the Biden administration.
The Pearl Street Mall, a bustling four-block area in
downtown Boulder, quickly turned into a scene of chaos following the attack.
Authorities responded promptly, and Soliman was apprehended at the scene.
FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the Boulder attack
in a post on social media, stating, "We are aware of and fully
investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and
local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as
more information becomes available."
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over rising
antisemitic violence across the United States.
Just over a week earlier, two staff members at the
Israeli embassy in Washington were fatally shot by a Chicago man who shouted,
"I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza" as he was taken into
custody.
