A man is in custody in Colorado and suspected in an attack Sunday on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. Five people were injured and witnesses said the suspect threw molitov cocktails that burned some or all of the victims. They were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
Boulder’s police chief held a brief news conference at 4 p.m., a little over two hours after the attack. A news conference with Boulder police and the FBI is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The FBI called it a targeted terrorist attack but Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn says it’s too early in the investigation to make that determination.
As a result of the attack, which happened at 1:26 p.m., three blocks of Pearl Street have been evacuated and remained closed to the public at 6 p.m. Investigators said there is a vehicle of interest in that zone, but it’s not clear whether it belongs to the suspect.
The people who were injured were outside the historic Boulder County Courthouse at 13th Street and Pearl Street. A burn scar could be seen in the space in front of the building. Witnesses said they saw people writhing on the ground and people running with water to try to help immediately afterwards. UCHealth confirmed that two victims were flown by helicopter to its burn unit.
The walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza was taking place in Boulder’s downtown. Two sources said witness told investigators suspect allegedly yelled “End Zionist!,” during the attack.
FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino described the incident as a terrorist attack and said around 3:30 p.m. that FBI agents are at the scene. Boulder police said the attack is under investigation and are working to determine if that is the case, and that it’s too early to speculate on the attacker’s motive.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis posted on X, “I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror. Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
Run For Their Lives, which organized the walk, said, “This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the hostages and their families, and a plea for their release.” The group met at 1 p.m. at Pearl Street and 8th Street to walk the length of the Pearl Street Mall and back with a stop at the courthouse for a video.
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Ed Victor, who was participating in the walk, said they’ve been holding these silent marches every week since Oct. 7 to raise awareness for the hostages still in Gaza. They stop at the courthouse to sing songs, tell stories and read the names of the hostages each week. He said around 30 people were participating in today’s walk.
Victor said that the marchers occasionally encounter hecklers, but they try not to respond and continue peacefully down Pearl Street. People also often nod, clap or thank them as they walk by, he added. He said that he never expected that someone would attack them.
“So we stood up, lined up in front of the old Boulder courthouse, and I was actually on the far west side. And there was somebody there that I didn’t even notice, although he was making a lot of noise, but I’m just focused on my job of being quiet and getting lined up. And, from my point of view, all of a sudden, I felt the heat. It was a Molotov cocktail equivalent, a gas bomb in a glass jar, thrown. Av [another marcher] saw it, a big flame as high as a tree, and all I saw was someone on fire,” said Victor.
Victor said they tried to put the fire out. As another marcher with medical experience stepped in to take care of her, Victor stayed with her husband to comfort him. He said volunteers also rushed in to help, bringing water.
A joint statement from Boulder’s Jewish community said:
We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza.
We don’t have all the details of what is unfolding, and we promise to keep our community informed.
Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
We are in touch with law enforcement about our Boulder Jewish community, and safety is our highest priority. We are working closely with SCN, Boulder PD, and the FBI. We are grateful for the first responders who are caring for our injured.
We will continue to work together to share information and provide support for our community. When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken. Our hope is that we come together for one another.
Strength to you all.
Attorney General Phil Weiser denounced the attack and offered to help the victims in a release Sunday afternoon.
My thoughts are with those injured and impacted by today’s attack against a group that meets weekly on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of the hostages in Gaza.
From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted. I have been in touch with Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty and have offered support from the Attorney General’s Office.
People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences. Hate has no place in Colorado. We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts—which are becoming more frequent, brazen, and closer to home—must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account.
This is a breaking story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.