The FBI refers to the fire at Boulder's Pearl Street Mall as a "targeted terrorist act."

Following an attack outside the Boulder County Historic Courthouse during a pro-Israel demonstration, one suspect was taken into custody.

An incident on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall during a vigil demanding that Hamas free Israeli hostages resulted in several persons being burned, some of them seriously.

In a briefing, Boulder police stated that it was too early in the inquiry to identify a motive, but the FBI director described the incident as a "targeted terror strike."

Boulder police chief Steve Redfearn reported that one suspect was taken into custody, an unnamed guy who was identified by onlookers. According to him, detectives are trying to identify the suspect.

In reference to Hamas' massive attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Anti-Defamation League posted on social media that it was aware of an attack on an event called Boulder Run for Their Lives, which it described as "a weekly meeting of Jewish community members to run/walk in support of the hostages kidnapped on 10/7."

The Boulder Police Department posted on social media that the attack, which took place close to the Boulder County Historic Courthouse at Pearl and 13th streets in downtown, left several persons hurt.

In a news briefing on Sunday afternoon, Redfearn stated that the severity of the injuries ranged from mild to life-threatening, but he was unable to provide an exact number of casualties.

On social media, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that local law enforcement and federal officers were on the scene.

Redfearn, however, disapproved of the FBI's designation of the assault as a "targeted terror act."

He stated that it was too early in the investigation to determine a motivation, but that "once we have a definite motive, we will react accordingly." "We will definitely step up and make sure that there is more security and presence if that motive was to target a group. Our goal is for individuals to feel secure.

According to Redfearn, the assault took place outside the courthouse on Sunday just before 1:30 p.m. A man brandishing a weapon and people being set on fire were reported by several callers.

Redfearn stated that although investigators were aware of a pro-Israel protest in the vicinity, they have not been able to verify whether that group was the target.

Witness to the assault Lynn Segal said she knew one of the victims and characterized her as an old woman.

It resembled a fireball. Segal remarked, "It was almost like a rifle of fire." It is comparable to a line of fire. It originated on (my) right.

Although Segal claims to be pro-Palestinian, she frequently participates in weekly protests alongside Israeli supporters to express solidarity for the hostages' release.

In order to join the walk for Israeli captives held in Gaza, Johanna Schmidt was traveling with her kids to meet her parents on Pearl Street. Schmidt texted her mother to let her know she was on her way, but she received a call informing her that Schmidt's father had been burned and that someone had thrown a "Molotov cocktail."

Schmidt went in search of her father, leaving her children with friends. Emergency vehicles were already present at the "chaotic" situation near the courthouse. She witnessed a single individual being placed into an ambulance.

In order to get to the hospital, she located her father, who was waiting for his wife to bring the car back. Schmidt reported that he was aware and ambulatory despite having a second-degree burn on his leg.

The incident was "extremely horrible and disturbing," according to Schmidt. At the hospital, she claimed that her parents, whose identities she requested not be revealed, told of "many other victims who were worse off" than her father.

"Unfortunately, we are not surprised that something like this occurred in Boulder," Schmidt wrote in an email. "This incident is not unique. It is a component of a larger trend where our sense of security is gradually declining.

About five minutes from Pearl Street, 19-year-old Alexandra Posnack was at her Boulder home when friends at the scene began messaging her to report that someone had thrown a Molotov cocktail at them.

According to Posnack, the targeted group is a part of a weekly protest calling for the release of all captives held by Hamas in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"I am furious and appalled, and I will come back here next week to demonstrate with my giant Israeli flag," she declared.

Supporters of terrorism want to spread fear, but Posnack said she will not allow that to happen.

She stated, "Jews can not afford to be afraid."

According to 28-year-old Brandon Hoover, the attack does not appear to be real.

"The scent of flesh" and flames sprang out of nowhere as he and his girlfriend were strolling down Pearl Street, he claimed.

In the immediate aftermath, he remembered, there was fear, and he heard some shouting to flee as others watched. He speculates that they might not have been aware of what transpired.