Boulder, Colorado, June 2, 2025 – A petrol bomb was thrown at a protest demanding the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza in the US state of Boulder. Several people were injured in the attack on Sunday afternoon (June 1) local time, many of whom were burned. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation into the incident, calling it a “planned terrorist attack.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on the social media platform X-A (formerly Twitter), “We are aware of a planned terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado and are investigating the incident thoroughly.”
Witnesses told local media that a man threw what appeared to be a homemade Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) at a group of people protesting for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The scene caught fire and panic spread among the protesters.
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfern said police responded to the scene around 1:30 p.m. "We found multiple people with burns and other injuries when we arrived," he said. Some of the injured were taken to the hospital, and their injuries ranged from "very serious" to "minor."
A video released shows a shirtless man walking around with a clear spray bottle in his hands as grass burns in front of him. The man can be heard shouting, "Down with the Zionists," "Free Palestine," and "They're murderers." He said the words as he looked at a group of people in red T-shirts who were tending to a man lying on the ground.
Police Chief Redfern said police immediately confronted the suspect upon arrival and took him into custody without incident. He declined to comment on the motive behind the incident, although the governor of Colorado called the attack a "terrorist attack." Boulder police said the 1200, 1300 and 1400 blocks of Pearl Street were evacuated and the area was cordoned off.
The incident added a new dimension to the growing tension and conflict in the United States over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
