Several people were injured after attack in downtown Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday after a man reportedly attacked bystanders with an incendiary device.
Police confirmed that a male suspect was taken into custody shortly after they received emergency calls just after 1:26 p.m. local time.
According to Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, witnesses reported a man wielding a weapon near the downtown courthouse and setting people on fire. Responding officers found victims with burn-related injuries and quickly apprehended a suspect, who was later transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
Authorities stated that injuries from the attack ranged from “very serious” to minor. The exact number of victims has not yet been confirmed.
A vehicle believed to be connected to the incident is under investigation, and the area around the scene has been cordoned off. The downtown zone, a popular pedestrian mall, was also the site of a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration earlier in the day. Police are still determining whether that group was intentionally targeted.
“This act is unacceptable,” Chief Redfearn said during a news briefing, urging the public to remain patient and compassionate as the investigation unfolds.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a statement saying he is “closely monitoring” the situation and offered support for those injured, calling the incident a “heinous act of terror.” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser added that it appeared to be “a hate crime given the group that was targeted.”
Despite the speculation, Chief Redfearn said the department is not yet labeling the attack as terrorism. “It would be irresponsible of me to speculate on motive this early on,” he said, though he acknowledged the national tensions and the need for increased security measures if warranted.
Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, described the incident on social media as an “act of terror,” citing preliminary evidence and witness accounts that suggested ideological motivations behind the violence.
Eyewitness Brooke Coffman, 19, described a disturbing scene in which she saw four women suffering from burns. One victim, she said, appeared severely injured and was wrapped in a flag by another person. Coffman also recalled seeing a shirtless man—believed to be the attacker—holding a glass bottle containing a clear liquid and yelling in the courtyard.
“Everybody is yelling: ‘Get water, get water,’” she said.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the attack, stating: “This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism.”
The incident comes amid rising tensions in the U.S. related to Israel’s war in Gaza. The conflict has fueled both a surge in antisemitic attacks and controversy over how pro-Palestinian protests are being addressed, particularly under the Trump administration, which has pushed to crack down on such demonstrations and defund institutions supporting them.
The Boulder Jewish Community Center confirmed that the victims had been participating in the weekly Run for Their Lives event, which calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In a statement, the Boulder JCC said: “Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken. Our hope is that we come together for one another.”
This is a developing story and more updates are expected.