A Holocaust survivor was among the eight people injured in Sunday’s attack on a march in Boulder, Colo., honoring Israeli hostages in Gaza.
This information was shared by a friend of the victim, whose identity has not been revealed, in an interview with KUSA.
“She is an amazing person,” Chany Scheiner said of the female victim during an interview with the station.
According to Scheiner, the woman has spoken at local synagogues and schools about her life and how she survived the Holocaust.
“She is an exceptional person who is passionate about standing up for what is right. “She was always smiling,” Scheiner said. “Her life hasn’t been easy, but she is a shining light. And anyone who is her friend is a lifelong friend.”
According to a spokesperson for the city of Boulder, the eight victims of Sunday’s attack, four men and four women, ranged in age from 54 to 88 years.
Their identity has not been revealed.
An individual attacked the group with a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd while yelling “Free Palestine,” according to a news release from the city of Boulder.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman. Soliman lives in El Paso County, about 100 miles south of Boulder.
According to Boulder County Jail records, Soliman is facing multiple charges, including first-degree assault, first-degree murder, criminal attempt to commit a felony, and crimes against an at-risk group. (It’s unclear why he’s charged with murder when no deaths have been reported.)
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn stated at a news conference on Sunday that the victims’ injuries ranged from serious to minor, and that Soliman was also treated at a local hospital before being booked into jail.
Soliman’s mugshot shows him with a heavy bandage on his ear.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now collaborating with the Boulder Police Department to “process the crime scene, interview witnesses, and gather evidence,” according to the release.
According to the same release, the FBI “is investigating the attack as a targeted act of terrorism.”
Dan Bongino, the FBI’s deputy director, later confirmed this on X, writing: “FBI personnel are on the scene in Boulder, Colo., along with local law enforcement.” We are looking into this incident as an act of terror and targeted violence.
Chief Redfearn attempted to console city residents on Sunday, saying, “Boulder is not immune to tragedy, sadly, and I know a lot of people are scared right now, questioning how this happened and why.”
He went on to say, “Boulder has recovered from acts of violence in the past, and we will again. I encourage this community to come together. “This is not the time to be divisive.”
Anyone with information on the Boulder attack is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with digital media—videos, social media posts, or digital recordings—is asked to upload it to www.fbi.gov/boulderattack.
