FBI reports 'terrorist attack' on Jewish community gathering in Colorado, man in custody

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened an investigation on Sunday, June ¹ , into a "targeted terrorist attack" that took place in Boulder, Colorado, in the mid-west of the United States, where a demonstration was taking place to demand the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

"We are aware of a targeted terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, and are conducting a thorough investigation. Our agents and local law enforcement are already on the scene and we will communicate as new information becomes available," FBI chief Kash Patel wrote on the social network X.

The city's police chief, Stephen Redfearn, was more reserved at a press conference held late in the afternoon. "I can't confirm at this point that this was aimed at a specific group of people," he said.

"The initial calls we received indicated that there was a man with a gun and people with burns. Our officers arrived very quickly on the scene. Upon arrival, we found several injured victims suffering from burns and other injuries," explained Mr. Redfearn.

"The victims were taken to the hospital. A suspect was identified to our officers on site, who immediately arrested him and took him into custody without incident."

The Jewish organization ADL (Anti-Defamation League) also reported "an attack" during "a weekly gathering of members of the Jewish community who run or walk in support of the hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023" in Israel, during the unprecedented Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. But it did not provide a death toll.

According to local media reports citing witnesses, a man was seen throwing what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail at a group of pro-Israel protesters. A video on social media, which appears to have been filmed at the time of the attack, shows an agitated, shirtless man with two bottles in his hands and some flames on the lawn in front of him, who appears to be shouting "Palestine is free."