Colorado: Multiple people ‘set on fire’ in targeted terror attack in Boulder

A man allegedly behind a targeted terror attack that injured six people has been identified, with witnesses reporting an improvised flamethrower was used.

Six victims, aged between 67 to 88, were injured with some set on fire during the horrific attack outside an outdoor shopping mall in the US city of Boulder in Colorado. All have been taken to hospital.

“Witnesses are reporting that the subject used a makeshift flame-thrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd.

The suspect was heard to yell, “Free Palestine! “ during the attack.”

The suspect has been identified as Mohammad Sabry Solimon, 45.

“As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” FBI special agent in charge Mark Michalek said.

“Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country.

“This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across our nation. It’s our job, the FBI, the Boulder Police, and our law enforcement and community partners, to bring these criminals to justice and keep our communities safe.”

Earlier FBI Director Kash Patel described the incident as a “targeted terror attack”

“This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street and this act was unacceptable,” he said.

The attack took place at a pedestrian mall that’s popular with tourists and college students and occurred as law enforcement authorities in the US grapple with a spike in anti-Semitic violence.

Last week, a man was arrested over the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers and shouted “Free Palestine” as he was being led away by police.

Multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall area were evacuated by police.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a statement he was “closely monitoring” the situation, adding that “hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable”.

- with Reuters