A targeted terror attack shook a popular outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, leaving several injured and some reportedly set on fire. Police have taken a suspect into custody as the FBI investigates. The attack occurred during a demonstration calling for hostage releases in Gaza, heightening concerns amid a surge in antisemitic violence across the U.S. Authorities continue to interview witnesses and secure the scene. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed federal involvement, promising updates as the investigation unfolds.
00:00Our officers were pointed out, a suspect was pointed out to our officers on the scene.
00:05Our officers immediately encountered that suspect who was taken into custody without incident.
00:11The initial callers indicated that there was a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire.
00:17This area is not safe yet. We're dealing with a vehicle of interest.
00:21We're dealing with a large area that we are making sure it's safe before we allow people to come back into the scene.
00:27Today, I'm here to give you very preliminary information about an attack that occurred here in downtown Boulder at about 1.26 p.m. today.
00:35At that time, Boulder Dispatch received several calls to the county courthouse located at 1325 Pearl Street here in Boulder.
00:45The initial callers indicated that there was a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire.
00:50The initial response by our officers, we were on scene very quickly.
00:56When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims that were injured with injuries consistent with burns and other injuries.
01:05While our officers and paramedics and fire department personnel got those victims quickly to the hospital,
01:14our officers were pointed out, a suspect was pointed out to our officers on the scene.
01:19Our officers immediately encountered that suspect who was taken into custody without incident.
01:24That suspect, who I'm not able to ID at this time, was taken to the hospital with some minor injuries as well.
01:31And there's a lot more we're investigating right now before I'm able to release information on that person.
01:37The scene itself is contained, but we have a large area here in downtown Boulder closed off right now.
01:44Businesses have been closed and we have asked people to avoid the area.
01:47This area is not safe yet.
01:50We're dealing with a vehicle of interest.
01:51We're dealing with a large area that we are making sure it's safe before we allow people to come back into the scene.
01:58If your vehicle is here in the several block perimeter that we have, please follow our social media.
02:04We will announce when the roads are open and people can retrieve their vehicle as well.
02:08I appreciate everyone's patience as we work through this complex scene.
02:11What I will say, lastly, is this was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street.
02:23And this act is unacceptable.
02:25I hope you'll join me this evening as we're working through this investigation.
02:30We are working, I just came from the command post.
02:33We've got dozens and dozens of people here, our state, local, and federal partners,
02:37working through this to figure out exactly what happened.
02:39I ask for a little bit of patience as we do that, but also I ask that you join me in thinking about our victims,
02:46the families of those victims, and everyone involved in this tragedy.
02:50Our hearts go out to them, and we are going to do everything we can to work as hard as we can throughout the evening
02:57to provide more information and get answers for everyone.
03:00With that, as I stated, it would be irresponsible for me to speculate right now on motive and other things.
03:07I will take maybe a handful of questions, but then I've got to go back to a briefing.
03:11I had a quick one.
03:12Yes, Sean.
03:13Was an actual protest going on when this occurred?
03:17Were a group of people gathered and were words said that would indicate this had anything at all to do with that protest?
03:23So what I will tell you on Pearl Street, it's a walking pedestrian mall downtown here.
03:26There was a lot of people out.
03:28A very beautiful day.
03:29There was a group of pro-Israel people that were there in a peaceful demonstration.
03:35I wouldn't even call it a protest.
03:36I believe that happens frequently down here.
03:39They were there in that area.
03:41We are looking and actively interviewing victims and witnesses to determine if that group was targeted or others.
03:47And we just don't have those answers yet.
03:48Those are things we hope to be able to provide you later this evening.
03:51FBI is already calling it a targeted terror attack.
03:54Would you also refer to it as a terror attack?
03:56So I've been in contact with our local FBI multiple times.
04:00We are in contact with them here.
04:02We are not calling it a terror attack at this point.
04:04Again, it's way too early to speculate motive.
04:07I know there's a lot out there on social media, but I ask people just to give us a little bit of patience while we work through a really complex scene.
04:14A lot of witnesses were here.
04:15We've taken them to another location to debrief them and interview them.
04:19As we do that, I think the picture will become more clear.
04:21But it would be irresponsible for me to speculate on motive this early on.
04:27We're only a couple hours into this thing.
04:28About the suspect, can you confirm the description about him?
04:34Because we know any picture running in social media.
04:37I haven't seen it.
04:38And obviously I wasn't here when he was arrested.
04:40All I know is it's an adult male.
04:42We're working to identify that person.
04:44We're working to figure out where they're from.
04:45And we're in contact with our federal partners as well as we figure that out.
04:49Was something thrown at the group?
04:52That is being investigated as well.
04:54So our initial call, as I mentioned, was a report that someone was setting people on fire.
04:58That is fairly consistent with the injuries that we found on scene.
05:01But we're not 100% certain how that happened.
05:04And that's what we're doing to interview.
05:06There's a lot of witnesses that we're interviewing.
05:08I suspect within this evening, I suspect we'll have a better idea of exactly how those injuries occurred.
05:13Are you going to have additional security for Jewish and Israeli people helping the hostages in the circle right now?
05:21Because this is a weekly occurrence.
05:22Are you guys going to now have some additional security measures to protect Jews and go over?
05:26So what I will say is, again, I cannot confirm right now that this was targeted at a specific group of people.
05:31We understand that there's a lot of tensions right now and a lot of issues in the United States and everywhere.
05:36Once we have a clear motive, we will react accordingly.
05:40And if that motive was a group was targeted, we will absolutely step up and ensure that additional security, additional presence.
05:46We want people to feel safe no matter what they're here for.
05:50How many people were injured?
05:51I don't have an exact number.
05:53What I will say is multiple.
05:54I can confirm that Molder Community Hospital received multiple patients, and some of those patients were transferred to other hospitals.
06:03Right now, we have detectives working to find out specifically the number.
06:07Again, hopefully later this evening we'll have an exact number.
06:09Right now, I'll just say multiple.
06:10Can I take, like, one more question?
06:12Any length-throwing injuries?
06:14I believe so.
06:14What I'm being told is there are a range of injuries, from very serious to more minor.
06:19And again, I just am, my heart goes out to those victims, and we're keeping them in our thoughts, prayers, and minds as they recover.
06:28I've got to go back to the command post.
06:29Can you just take this call?
06:30And I'll tell you that we are going to have another update later tonight.
06:35We will post that out, and we will live stream it as well.
06:36So, look, follow our social media for the next update.
06:38We will have another update for you this evening.
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