Boulder attack updates: 6 injured in 'act of terror' with 'makeshift flamethrower'

A suspect carried out an "act of terrorism" on a pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday afternoon, using what police are describing as a "makeshift flamethrower" against a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators.

Six people were hospitalized with burns, including one who was seriously injured. The victims' ages ranged from 67 to 88, and they were all taken to local hospitals, police said.

The suspect, identified by the FBI as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was allegedly heard yelling "Free Palestine" while using a "makeshift flamethrower" and throwing an incendiary device at the crowd, according to Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.

Soliman was taken into custody without incident and transferred to a hospital where he was examined, police said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said officials were investigating the incident as a "targeted terror attack." The FBI believes the attack was "ideologically motivated violence," according to "early information, the evidence and witness accounts," Deputy Director Dan Bongino added.

The attack in Boulder comes at a time of heightened violence, including high-profile incidents against the Jewish community.

The pro-Israel demonstration was a Run for Their Lives walk, aiming to raise awareness about the remaining hostages in Gaza. The organization hosts global run and walk events, "calling for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas," according to its website.

Leo Terrell, head of the antisemitism task force at the Justice Department, said that an "incendiary device" was thrown at participants in the walk.

"This was not an isolated incident," Terrell continued. "This antisemitic terrorist attack is part of a horrific and escalating wave of violence targeting Jews and their supporters simply for being Jewish or standing up for Jewish lives," he said.

The attack happened on the eve of a Jewish holiday, Shavuot, "making it all the more chilling and cruel," Terrell said.

A spokesperson for the organization, Miri Kornfeld, said in a statement to ABC News said a man who was leading the walk described the scene as "the floor burning beneath them."

All upcoming Run for Their Lives events have been canceled until further notice, Kornfeld said, who was not at the walk in Boulder.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the "targeted terror attack," a senior White House official told ABC News.

"Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote on X, describing the incident as a "heinous act of terror."

Boulder Police, while calling the attack a "tragedy" and "unacceptable," initially stopped short of calling the incident terrorism and did not want to speculate on the suspect's move, according to Chief Stephen Redfearn.

The incident occurred just before 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the intersection of 13th Street and Pearl Street.

Police responded to reports of a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire.

When they arrived, there were multiple victims at the scene with injuries consistent with burns, police said. Police said four of the victims were taken to Boulder Community Hospital and two others were airlifted to a burn unit in Aurora. Apart from the victim with serious injuries, the others were believed to be more minor, Redfearn said.

Last month, two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed in Washington, D.C. in what was labeled as an "act of terror."

The shooting sparked outrage and has been condemned as an "unspeakable" act of antisemitism after officials said the suspect, who is in custody, shouted "free, free Palestine" following the shooting.

In April, the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, was targeted by an arsonist who allegedly made two Molotov cocktails from Heineken bottles he had at home and threw them inside the governor’s mansion after breaking a window with a hammer, according to court documents.

The attack happened after the governor had posted about celebrating Passover with his family.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.