Colorado terror suspect charged with murder after attack at pro-Israel rally

By Alice Scarsi, World News Editor, Jon King, News Reporter

A man has been charged with two counts of murder following an incident in Colorado (Image: EXPRESS)

A man has been charged with two counts of murder after people were targeted with petrol bombs and a makeshift flamethrower at a rally in Colorado held in support of Israeli hostages. Eight people calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza were injured at a shopping centre in Boulder by a man who police say used a makeshift flamethrower and lobbed an incendiary device into a crowd.

Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office, said the suspect yelled "Free Palestine" during the attack on Sunday (June 1). The FBI described what happened as a targeted "act of terrorism". It named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, 45, from El Paso County, Colorado.

Mr Soliman has been charged with two counts of murder; one count of attempted murder; one count of first-degree assault; one count of causing serious injury to an at-risk adult or someone over 70, and one count of using explosives or incendiary devices.

Despite the murder charge, police in the US have yet to confirm if anyone died as a result of the attack.

Four women and four men were injured in the attack, with their ages ranging from 52 to 88, according to police. There was no update on their conditions as of midday on Monday (June 2).

One of the victims was believed to be in a critical condition. Injuries were described by the police as ranging from "very serious" to "more minor".

Police said demonstrators from a group called Run for Their Lives were targeted in the attack. The group organises events calling for the immediate release of Israeli hostages still in Gaza after they were captured by militants during the incursion into southern Israel which sparked the Israel-Hamas war in October, 2023.

Members of the group had gathered at the shopping centre in Pearl Street, an area often frequented by tourists and students.

The scene just after the attack was said to be tense, with police with a police dog scouring the streets, looking for threats and ordering the public to keep away.