Six Injured At Colorado Mall
BBC News
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Six Injured At Colorado Mall
BBC News
Six people have been injured after a man started "setting people on fire" at a mall in Boulder in Colorado, officials say
The FBI calls it a "suspected act of terrorism", and tells a news conference the suspect – who they have identified – shouted "free Palestine" during the attack
A peaceful event in support of Israeli hostages was under way when the attack happened, police say – the group meets regularly for a walk in the area
Officers say the suspect has been taken into custody and six people were injured, with injuries ranging from from "very serious" to more minor
Colorado's attorney general says the attack "appears to be a hate crime"
The FBI's press conference is being aired now. Click 'Watch Live' above
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Watch: Eyewitness captures moments during Colorado attack
Edited by Chris Graham and Victoria Bourne
Michael Doherty, the district attorney for Boulder County, echoes the FBI saying "we are in the very early stages here".
He says that all agencies are working together "to hold the attacker fully accountable".
"That is my promise," he adds.
"We are fully united 100% in making sure the charges we bring hold the attacker fully accountable."
Police have said there won't be any more updates tonight.
Police chief Stephen Redfearn also said he was "fairly confident" that there was "not an additional suspect at large".
He said that the police had received reports of "differing descriptions", but after speaking to witnesses, the police believe they have the lone suspect in custody.
The press conference has now finished.
Before ending proceedings, the FBI took questions and was asked for more details about the suspect.
Special agent Mark Michalek said the suspect was in custody and there was no evidence at this time that he was connected to a wider group.
He added those checks were "ongoing".
"We are early in the investigative process and both teams will be working side by side collaboratively."
FBI special agent Mark Michalek gives an update at a press conference
The police chief says victims in the attack range in age from 67 to 88.
He says at least one of the victims was seriously injured and is in critical condition. He said among the six who were hurt, some had more minor injuries.
"Our thoughts are heavily focused on their recovery," he adds.
He says the suspect is also injured and was taken to hospital.
Redfearn thanks first responders who rushed to the scene where a man was "throwing Molotov cocktails, and using other devices to hurt people".
He said they then took the man into custody, and began to support the victims.
We've just heard from police chief Stephen Redfearn.
He thanks the FBI for their "swift response" to the attack.
Redfearn says there are multiple teams still working in downtown Boulder "clearing that area for devices".
He adds that there are canine and bomb squads in the area, and that they want to make sure the area is safe before it is reopened.
The Boulder Courthouse will remain closed on Monday.
The FBI says it's treating the attack as a suspected act of terrorism, confirming there are six victims.
The suspect, according to FBI's special agent Mark Michalek, was heard to have yelled "Free Palestine" during the attack. He was named as Mohamed Sabry Soliman.
The victims are aged between 67 and 88, Michalek adds in the press conference.
A press conference being held by the FBI and Boulder police has just started in Denver now. Stay tuned here – and watch the live stream above.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said her department is working with "interagency partners, including the FBI", and would share more information when it becomes available.
"We are praying for the victims and their families. This violence must stop."
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, has just released a statement saying he is "shocked" by the incident and calls the attack "pure antisemitism".
"Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado," he wrote on X.
"This is pure Antisemitism, fueled by the blood libels spread in the media. I spoke with our Ambassador in the US and our Consul General in LA.
"I pray for those who were wounded in the attack."
While the FBI is treating the incident as "an act of terror", the Boulder County Police Department have avoided labelling the incident as such and have urged people not to speculate.
We should have more details soon as the FBI holds a press conference at 18.30 local time (01:30 BST).
We have more details on the evolving situation on the ground as the investigation continues. Emergency officials issued the first evacuation order at 14:39 local time (20:39 GMT), warning people away from an area three blocks wide between Pine Street and Walnut Street in central Boulder.
Less than an hour later, another order came expanding the evacuation zone to the L-shaped area we highlighted earlier.
At 16:10 this nearly doubled in size, sweeping downtown to 9th Street where it remains.
We will update you if this changes again.
We've spoken to a local worker, who says there was a big police presence when he arrived on the scene.
He says his coworkers, who witnessed the attack, told him "someone threw a Molotov cocktail" at a group of people who were gathered there for a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and there were people running in the street.
"When I arrived at my job, there were three girls alone and I was the only man there. They were very scared."
He also explained that the boulevard is usually a very busy area, often hosting events and concerts.
Run for Their Lives was the group holding a march when the attack happened.
The group holds walking and running events around the world calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to their website.
It says its events are not protests, but “peaceful walks”.
Their website says there are currently 230 active groups around the world, with the majority in North America and Europe.
The groups meet once a week for a 1km walk wearing red T-shirts. They also carry national flags of the citizens who are among the hostages still held in Gaza.
The Run for Their Lives Instagram account has more than 6,000 followers. Their Facebook group has more than 2,000 members.
The movement was started by a group of Israelis in California, but local events are “independently led”, according to their website.
Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, has reacted on social media to tonight's attack in Boulder, calling it "terrorism" and calling for "concrete action".
In a post on X, the ambassador says "Jewish protesters were brutally attacked".
"Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border – it is already burning the streets of America", he adds.
The FBI has also called it a "targeted terror attack" – but local police say it is too early to say that or speculate on motive.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has posted online saying they have a leadership team on the ground and will provide an update shortly.
He has reiterated that the FBI is treating what happened in Boulder as "an act of terror", which contradicts the Boulder County Police Department who we heard from earlier.
Bongino says it is being investigated as "an act of ideologically motivated violence" based on the "early information, the evidence, and witness accounts".
Police say there will be a press conference at 18:30 local time (01:30 BST).
We are seeing several images and videos on social media of the reported suspect, seemingly minutes after the incident took place.
While we work on verifying these images, we can describe what we are seeing – some show the apparent suspect, who is shirtless, holding two bottles with pieces of red cloth and a clear liquid inside. As we just reported, the liquid was flammable, according to a source speaking to CBS.
In one particular video, a person recording tells a police officer the man was “throwing Molotov cocktails” – though police earlier said they were unable to confirm this.
Videos also show the man being detained by police at the scene.
We will bring you more information as we have it.
Our news partners CBS have heard from a law enforcement source who says the suspect is in custody.
The source says at least five people have sustained burns, with one or two of those in a serious condition in hospital.
CBS reports that bottles, containing a flammable liquid, were thrown at a group gathered at the Boulder County Historic Courthouse.
People had been taking part in an event aimed at raising awareness of the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
The Boulder Police Department says helicopters circling above the scene on Pearl Street are making it "impossible" for their drones to investigate.
The agency has put a plea out on social media calling for all aircraft to avoid airspace over Pearl Street.
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Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn also answered some questions from reporters – including how many people were injured and what types of injuries they sustained.
The outdoor mall where the attack took place was crowded with people, including those gathered for a pro-Israeli demonstration, authorities said.
Police are examining whether the demonstration was targeted, but have yet to confirm a link.
The Jewish community in Boulder released a statement condemning the attack, and saying people at the demonstration, which was organised by a group called "Run for Their Lives," were injured.
"Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured," Boulder's Jewish Community said in a joint statement. "When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken."
The Run for Their Lives group, which aims to show solidarity for Israeli hostages in Gaza, meets regularly at the Pearl Street Mall to "share the message far and wide (specifically via social media) that the hostages have not been forgotten" during a "peaceful walk" but not a protest, according to the group.
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