The attacker who used a makeshift flamethrower in Boulder against a pro-Israel protest has been charged with a federal hate crime. Witnesses described seeing huge flames, according to CNN. At least 12 people were injured, most of whom were between the ages of 52 and 88, authorities say. Two victims were airlifted to Denver with at least one of them being “very seriously injured,” officials report.
As of Monday morning, no victims have died, the Boulder Police Department says.
The potential “act of terrorism” is being investigated by the FBI. The incident took place during a weekly walk in support of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to CNN. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect, reportedly yelled “Free Palestine!” ”End Zionists!” and “They are killers!” as he carried two bottles while witnesses in a video said he’s “spraying alcohol” and “making Molotov cocktails.”
Along with a federal hate crime, he is being charged with 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder; eight counts of first-degree assault; 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device; and two counts of use of an incendiary device.
Mohamed faces life in prison if convicted of the federal charges, J. Bishop Grewell, acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, says.
“The Jewish community has been warning the world that chants of ‘globalize the Intifada’ and ‘resistance by any means necessary’ are calls to violence,” Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, says on social media. “We’ve now seen that violence erupt in America twice in less than two weeks.”
After the attack, authorities recovered 16 unused molotov cocktails. Police also found a “backpack weed sprayer” that held gasoline as well as xylene, a highly flammable liquid, according to federal court documents.
Eric D. Fingerhut, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, has proposed a six-point plan for the federal government to address the growing threats against Jewish communities including an increase of a security grant to $1 billion, dedicating resources for security personnel at Jewish institutions, using FBI intelligence to further thwart domestic terrorism, and holding social media platforms accountable for spreading antisemitic hate.
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