Hostage demonstration in Boulder targeted by Molotov cocktails

FBI personnel and local police are investigating an attack in Boulder, Colorado that occurred at an event raising awareness for the Israeli hostages, Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino said in a post on Twitter/X.

On Sunday afternoon, a man threw Molotov cocktails at participants of a weekly walking group that raises awareness for the hostages in Hamas captivity.

Local media reported that five people were burned. The injuries range "from very serious to more minor," Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said, according to Reuters.

One eyewitness said that one woman was so badly burned that she had to roll on the ground to put the fire out. Walla reported that children were among the five injured. 

The suspect, an adult male, is now in custody, Reuters said. 

In videos of the attack circulated on social media, the suspect is seen walking and shouting “end Zionists” and “Palestine is free” while holding bottles containing clear liquids. 

Local authorities said that they could not confirm whether or not it was a terror attack at the time of publication. 

"We are saddened and heartbroken," Boulder's Jewish Community said in a post on Facebook. "When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken. Our hope is that we come together for one another."

"Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured," the statement said.

FBI, police investigating Boulder attack 

FBI Director Kash Patel said on Sunday that the agency was aware of and fully investigating the potential terror attack.

While he did not provide further details, Patel said in a post on social media: "Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available."

Police are asking the public to avoid the expanded evacuation area, they said on Twitter/X. So far, they have evacuated the 1200, 1300, and 1400 blocks of Pearl Street between Walnut and Pine, Colorado, according to local reports.

The weekly walking group, Run for Their Lives, noted that their walk was not a protest, but rather a peaceful gathering to raise awareness for the hostages in Gaza.  

"This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the hostages and their families, and a plea for their release," the organization said in a statement, as reported by CBS News. 

Colorado gov'r, A-G react

"Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable," Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a Twitter/X post.

"My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror," he said.

The Israeli consulate in Los Angeles said that it was monitoring the situation and that it had contacted local law enforcement and the Boulder Jewish community. 

"This attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted," Colorado Attorney-General Phil Weiser said in a statement. 

“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. We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts—which are becoming more frequent, brazen and closer to home—must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account," he said.

Jewish Federation proposes steps to Trump administration

"The attack in Boulder is another example of a wave of domestic terror aimed at the Jewish community. This must be the highest priority for the Trump Administration and Congress," a statement from the Jewish Federations President and CEO Eric D Fingerhut said on Sunday.

The statement outlined six steps that the organization believes the Trump administration should implement, including increasing funding for defense and security organizations that protect Jewish institutions, and aggressively prosecuting antisemitic hate crimes and violence.