By Currents News
What’s normally a space for community was roped off by crime scene tape on June 1.
Those who saw what happened at Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado were in a state of shock.
“It is clear that this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” Mark Michalek, FBI Denver Special Agent, said during a press conference following the attack.
Just before 1:30 on Sunday afternoon, calls came in to Boulder Police saying there was a man with a weapon and people were being set on fire.
In total — there are eight victims. Two of them were taken to a burn unit in Aurora, Colorado. One of them sustained very serious injuries.
“Witnesses are reporting that the subject used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd,” Mark Michalek said.
The attack happened at a regularly scheduled weekly event called “Run for Their Lives.”
“I have done it, and so I understand what it is, and people have been saying it’s a protest or it’s this and that, and it’s really not. It’s a very peaceful walk to bring awareness to the hostages that are still not home,” Boulder local Judy Amabile told Currents News.
“The suspect was heard to yell ‘Free Palestine’ during the attack,” Michalek noted.
The suspect, who’s now in custody, is 45-year-old Mohammed Solomon.
“People want to know: Who got hurt? Who did this. Is there some other problem? Is there something else that might happen? And so everybody’s on edge,” Amabile explained.
Meanwhile, police across the country — including in New York — are increasing security at houses of worship.
Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan issued a statement on June 2, saying, “The heinous anti-Semitic attack that injured eight people yesterday in Boulder, Colorado, showed a complete disregard for human life. Let us continue to pray that the days of senseless killings will soon be replaced by a time of peace.”
Boulder is still waiting on answers.
“Any attempt to divide us through fear or harm has no place in Boulder, Colorado, or anywhere in our nation,” Michalek said.
There’s no denying, the city is a place that knows how to come together.
“All I know is Boulder has recovered before from acts of violence, and we will again recover,” police officer Stephen Redfearn said.