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As Boulder residents grapple with the aftermath of a violent incident on June 1, local faith leaders have expressed their sorrow and called for an end to such violence. The attack targeted participants in a weekly walk organized by the city's chapter of Run for Their Lives, which calls for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The FBI identified the alleged attacker as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, aged 45. Soliman reportedly used a homemade flamethrower and threw Molotov cocktails at the group, injuring several people. Witnesses stated that he shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack.
Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila urged Catholics to pray for those affected, asking God "to bring comfort, healing and peace in the face of such hatred." He noted his sadness over what appeared to be an attack targeting Jewish individuals, emphasizing that "this type of violence must come to an end as it only fuels hatred."
Rabbi Yisroel and Leah Wilhelm from the Rohr Chabad House at the University of Colorado encouraged people to respond by joyously celebrating Shavuot, a Jewish holiday that coincided with the attack. They suggested attending readings of the Ten Commandments and recommitting to cherished traditions.
Authorities have described Soliman's actions as a "targeted terror attack," noting that he acted alone. He has been charged with federal hate crimes and state charges including multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder. Born in Egypt, Soliman had been living in Colorado Springs after moving from El Paso County three years ago. The Department of Homeland Security reported his presence in the U.S. without legal status.
Injuries from the incident ranged among victims aged 52 to 88, with eight hospitalized for burns; six had been released by June 3. Soliman remains jailed on a $10 million bond pending his next court appearance on June 5.
Run for Their Lives organizes events advocating for the release of Israelis held hostage since a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The Anti-Defamation League reported increasing antisemitic incidents in Colorado, citing a 41% rise last year compared to previous records.
Stefanie Clarke from Stop Antisemitism Colorado told Colorado Public Radio that such incidents stem from an environment where hate has been allowed to grow unchecked. She characterized this event as part of a troubling trend toward normalizing hate.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet also commented on social media about rising antisemitism leading to attacks like this one, expressing his commitment to combating it while noting its painful timing during Shavuot celebrations.
Recently, two Israeli Embassy employees were fatally shot outside Washington's Capitol Jewish Museum—a crime federal authorities are investigating as both murder and potentially terrorism-related due to its antisemitic nature.
