Boulder Mall Attack: A Closer Look at the Recent Violence

A recent violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, has left six people hurt. The FBI is treating this as a terror attack. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was arrested. He shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack. He used a homemade flamethrower. The attack happened at the Pearl Street pedestrian mall. A group was there to support Israeli hostages in Gaza. The suspect was also hurt and taken to the hospital. Details about his injuries were not shared. Video from the scene shows a witness pointing out the suspect. The suspect had containers in each hand. A police officer with a drawn gun was seen approaching him. The attack happened during a demonstration by a group called Run For Their Lives. They were raising awareness about hostages in Gaza. This conflict has been ongoing between Israel and Hamas. It has caused a rise in antisemitic violence in the United States. The Boulder attack happened more than a week after a shooting in Washington. The shooter in Washington yelled "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza" after killing two Israeli embassy staffers. The FBI is investigating the Boulder attack as a possible act of terrorism. The Justice Department called it a "needless act of violence. " This attack follows recent violence against Jewish Americans. The conflict in Gaza started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel. They killed over 1, 200 people and took about 250 hostages. Israel's response has been devastating. Over 54, 000 people have died in Gaza. Most of them were women and children. The Boulder police were careful about discussing motives. They said it was too early to speculate. The injuries ranged from serious to minor. They were consistent with burns. The attack happened four years after a shooting at a Boulder grocery store. That shooting killed four people. The gunman was sentenced to life in prison. The area around the mall was evacuated. The scene was tense. Law enforcement agents with a police dog were seen searching the streets. The public was told to stay away. Colorado's governor said he was monitoring the situation. He called the attack "unacceptable. "