Alert – Colorado terror attack – live: Suspect’s chilling rant as he set victims ablaze

Boulder chief of police Redfearn revealed authorities are still searching the area for ‘devices.’

He said both canine and bomb squads are scouring the region to ensure it is safe before they reopen.

The public are still urged to avoid the area.

Authorities believe Soliman acted alone, despite initial reports of a second attacker.

Authorities have revealed Mohamed Soliman shouted ‘Free Palestine’ as he attacked peaceful demonstrators on Sunday.

He used what authorities have described as a ‘makeshift flamethrower’ in the attack.

The suspect has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman. Authorities say they are ‘early in the investigative process.’

Soliman was injured during the incident and taken to hospital to be examined.

The FBI are holding a press conference in Boulder, where they have confirmed a host of new details, including details about the victims.

Authorities said there were six victims during the attack, all aged between 67 and 88.

Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, joined the chorus of condemnation on social media on Sunday night, writing to X: ‘Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado.

‘This is pure Antisemitism, fueled by the blood libels spread in the media. I spoke with our Ambassador in the US and our Consul General in LA.

‘I pray for those who were wounded in the attack.’

Ed Victor, who was participating in the walk, told CBS he and a group of about 30 people had gathered for their peaceful demonstration on Sunday afternoon as they had every week since the October 7 attacks.

He said they would sing songs and share the names of the hostages in Gaza each week.

Sometimes they were heckled, often they were praised and clapped by onlookers. Whatever reception they received, they never expected to be attacked.

Sharing details of Sunday’s chilling events, he said: ‘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.

‘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.’

While another participant who had medical experience rushed in to help the victim, Victor stayed back with her husband, providing him comfort.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, has demanded ‘concrete action’ for the events in Boulder.

He wrote: ‘Jewish protesters were brutally attacked.

‘Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border – it is already burning the streets of America.

‘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.’

Brooke Coffman told NBC she saw two women ‘rolling around’ in their underwear after they were set alight.

She called 911 and noticed the duo had ‘really bad burns all up on their legs.’

Another woman was screaming after being torched nearby.

Coffman added that one of the women had her hair entirely burned off during the horrifying ordeal.

She saw other witnesses rushing toward the carnage with jugs of water in an effort to help the victims, who appeared to be mostly older women.

‘I know it’s Boulder, it’s Pearl Street, some stuff happens … but you just don’t really think it’s going to happen right here, you don’t think it’s something you’re going to see, so many people hurt.’

Boulder Police have urged civilians to avoid the airspace above the scene of Sunday’s crime, revealing a helicopter up above is now impeding the investigation.

‘Helicopters circling the scene on Pearl Street are making it impossible for our drones to investigate,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Please avoid flying all aircraft in the airspace over the scene. Thank you.’

As horrified witnesses filmed the suspected attacker, he looked directly at his victims and appeared to shout: ‘How many children you killed.’

Then turning his attention to the crowd, he added: ‘We have to end Zionists. They are killers.’

These chilling words came moments after he allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at the group.

The Anti Defamation League Center on Extremism reviewed the witness footage in which he made these remarks.

The FBI issued a pointed reponse to CNN downplaying the attack on Sunday evening.

Assistant Director for Public Affairs at the FBI, Ben Williamson, wrote on X: ‘The guy shouted “Free Palestine” while throwing fire bombs at a crowd of Jewish people. We correctly referred to an investigation of terrorism, will continue to do so.

‘We have zero interest in what either these CNN guests have to say. Kick rocks.’

That post was then reshared by Deputy Director Dan Bongino.

Dan Bongino issued a chilling warning to any criminals ‘aiding and abetting’ acts of terror.

He wrote: ‘We are investigating this incident as an act of terror, and targeted violence.

‘All of the necessary assets will be dedicated to this investigation.

‘If you have any investigative tips please contact the FBI. And if you aided or abetted this attack, we will find you.

‘You cannot hide.’

He later added a follow up post in an apparent response to doubts over whether the attack was labeled an act of terror too early.

‘This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it,’ he said.

Noem said in a post on X on Sunday evening that her department was working with the FBI and she was praying for the families of the violent attack.

‘This violence must stop,’ she added.

Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser has released a statement describing the incident as a ‘hate crime.’

He said: ‘From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted.

‘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.’

The horrifying scene in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday unfolded two weeks after two Israeli diplomats were shot and killed in Washington D.C.

Israeli embassy staffer Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 22 by a man shouting ‘Free Palestine’.

The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez.

The shooting was widely condemned around the globe and sparked fears that anti-Semitism was growing in the United States.

NYPD issued a statement on Sunday afternoon confirming officers are on high alert following the attack in Colorado.

Authorities said: ‘We’re monitoring the horrific attack in Colorado targeting an event for Israeli hostages.

‘The NYPD has already increased our presence at religious sites throughout NYC for Shavuot [Jewish holiday beginning today] with high visibility patrols & heavy weapons teams.’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined members of the Trump administration in calling the attack in Boulder an act of terror.

‘We’re united in prayer for the victims of a targeted terror attack this afternoon in Boulder,’ he posted on X on Sunday night.

‘Terror has no place in our great country.’

Boulder police confirmed victims are suffering varying levels of injuries, including some who are fighting for their lives.

Victims were rushed to hospital from the scene.

Organizer Miri Kornfeld told the New York Post one woman had to roll around on the ground in an effort to extinguish the flames which had engulfed her body.

According to Kornfeld, at least five victims were struck by the flames.

The shirtless attacker was caught on camera as he paced through the crowded walkway where the peaceful demonstrators had gathered to honor Israelis trapped in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the group said they had been meeting in the same spot weekly since October 7, 2023 – when Hamas launched the initial vicious attack which kicked off the ongoing conflict.

‘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.’

Despite Kash Patel and Governor Jared Polis both referring to Sunday’s incident as an act of terror, Boulder’s chief of police argued it would be ‘irresponsible’ to use that label this early into the investigation.

Redfearn said he had been in contact with local FBI in the hours since the tragedy, and he was aware that FBI director Patel described the events as a ‘targeted terror attack.’

Still, he insisted: ‘We are not calling it a terror attack at this point. It is way too early.

‘It would be irresponsible for me to speculate right now on motive, and other things.’

He accepted that a group of ‘pro-Israel people’ had gathered in a peaceful demonstration.

‘We are looking to see if that group was targeted. We just don’t have those answers yet.’

Police have not revealed the suspect’s name, but confirmed he was ‘taken into custody without incident.’

He is now in hospital being treated for minor injuries.

Chief Steve Redfearn said he could provide ‘very preliminary information’ about the attack.

‘The initial call said there was a man with a weapon, and that people were being set on fire.

‘When we arrived we found multiple victims… with injuries consistent with burns.’

Those victims were rushed quickly to the hospital, where they remain and are being treated.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis called the attack a “heinous act of terror’ on Sunday afternoon.

‘Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation,’ he wrote on X.

Boulder Police said they were evacuating several blocks of the typically popular pedestrian mall area, saying that there were ‘several victims’ in the attack.

The attacker, who has not been identified, targeted the procession on 13th Street and Pearl Street.

Police asked residents to avoid the stretch of Pearl Street between Walnut and Pine as they continue to investigate.

Witnesses said a suspect attacked people with Molotov cocktails as they took part in a walk to remember the Israeli hostages who are still in Gaza.

In the footage, a shirtless man wearing sunglasses is confronted by shocked onlookers, including one who says: ‘He is spraying alcohol… he is making Molotov cocktails.’

Photographs from the scene showed EMTs rushing a victim on a stretcher. More images showed cops arresting a shirtless man at the scene.

Footage captured what looked like a burn scar close to the town’s old courthouse.

He wrote on X: ‘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.’