From the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is the morning edition. I'm Samantha Selinger Morris. It's Monday, June 2nd. Since October 7th, incidents of anti-Semitism have surged across the globe, with people attacked and synagogues and homes vandalized. In some instances, the most vulnerable people in the community have been targeted. Like Holocaust survivors and residents of aged care homes. It's with this backdrop that the latest attack has occurred, this time at a pro-Israel event in the United States. Today, world editor Catherine Naylor on the attack in Boulder, Colorado, which turned a weekly vigil into what one witness said looked like a war zone. So, Catherine, can you just begin by describing to us what happened on Sunday?

From the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is the morning edition. I'm Samantha Selinger Morris. It's Monday, June 2nd. Since October 7th, incidents of anti-Semitism have surged across the globe, with people attacked and synagogues and homes vandalized. In some instances, the most vulnerable people in the community have been targeted. Like Holocaust survivors and residents of aged care homes. It's with this backdrop that the latest attack has occurred, this time at a pro-Israel event in the United States. Today, world editor Catherine Naylor on the attack in Boulder, Colorado, which turned a weekly vigil into what one witness said looked like a war zone. So, Catherine, can you just begin by describing to us what happened on Sunday?

Yes. So on Sunday afternoon in Boulder, it was a it was a lovely sunny afternoon. It was about 130 in the afternoon, and a group of people were holding a regular weekly rally and walk in support of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Um, they have been holding this event every week since the October 7th, 2023 attacks, and it has always been a peaceful affair, according to to those who've attended it. Um, but on Sunday, as they were walking through a pedestrian mall, like an outdoor mall, a man allegedly attacked them with a makeshift flamethrower type device.

Yes. So on Sunday afternoon in Boulder, it was a it was a lovely sunny afternoon. It was about 130 in the afternoon, and a group of people were holding a regular weekly rally and walk in support of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Um, they have been holding this event every week since the October 7th, 2023 attacks, and it has always been a peaceful affair, according to to those who've attended it. Um, but on Sunday, as they were walking through a pedestrian mall, like an outdoor mall, a man allegedly attacked them with a makeshift flamethrower type device.

Today, I'm here to give you very preliminary information about an attack that occurred here in downtown Boulder. Uh, the initial caller has indicated that there was a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire.

Today, I'm here to give you very preliminary information about an attack that occurred here in downtown Boulder. Uh, the initial caller has indicated that there was a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire.

And so how many people were injured? And how seriously, like, what kind of injuries were sustained?

And so how many people were injured? And how seriously, like, what kind of injuries were sustained?

So six. There were six people injured. Their ages ranged between 67 and 88. Two were airlifted to hospital, one in a critical condition.

So six. There were six people injured. Their ages ranged between 67 and 88. Two were airlifted to hospital, one in a critical condition.

When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims that were injured with injuries consistent with burns.

When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims that were injured with injuries consistent with burns.

When the police got there, the crowd pointed out the man who they said had attacked the people with the flamethrower. He was, uh, bare chested, holding two. They looked like spray bottles, which seemed to have some sort of flammable liquid in them.

When the police got there, the crowd pointed out the man who they said had attacked the people with the flamethrower. He was, uh, bare chested, holding two. They looked like spray bottles, which seemed to have some sort of flammable liquid in them.

Spraying alcohol. Alcohol made it look like he was here. He's making Molotov cocktails.

Spraying alcohol. Alcohol made it look like he was here. He's making Molotov cocktails.

They say that he was yelling out Free Palestine during the attack, and he hasn't yet been charged. But they expect him to be charged. And the the FBI have called it a targeted terrorist attack.

They say that he was yelling out Free Palestine during the attack, and he hasn't yet been charged. But they expect him to be charged. And the the FBI have called it a targeted terrorist attack.

Clear that this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism.

Clear that this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism.

And can you tell us a little bit about the environment in which this attack occurred? Like, what kind of town is Boulder, Colorado?

And can you tell us a little bit about the environment in which this attack occurred? Like, what kind of town is Boulder, Colorado?

Yeah. So I've actually been to Boulder. It was a while ago, but it's, um, it's quite a pretty town. It's a college town. So the University of Colorado has a big base there. It's like your quintessential American city. Small city. Really. It has a population of about 100,000, and it has this big outdoor pedestrian mall. So it's similar to Pitt Street Mall in Sydney or or Bourke Street in Melbourne.

Yeah. So I've actually been to Boulder. It was a while ago, but it's, um, it's quite a pretty town. It's a college town. So the University of Colorado has a big base there. It's like your quintessential American city. Small city. Really. It has a population of about 100,000, and it has this big outdoor pedestrian mall. So it's similar to Pitt Street Mall in Sydney or or Bourke Street in Melbourne.

And can you tell us a little bit about this weekly gathering? You know, the people that were collected there in this pedestrian mall. You know, what do they do when they go there weekly?

And can you tell us a little bit about this weekly gathering? You know, the people that were collected there in this pedestrian mall. You know, what do they do when they go there weekly?

Uh, so they they're part of a group called run for Their Lives. They hold regular rallies around the world remembering, um, the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. They sort of gather about 1:00 in Boulder and start a walk. Sometimes they speak the names of those who are held hostage. Sometimes they sing the Israeli national anthem. Um, and generally, as they say, bear witness to to the situation with the Israeli hostages.

Uh, so they they're part of a group called run for Their Lives. They hold regular rallies around the world remembering, um, the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. They sort of gather about 1:00 in Boulder and start a walk. Sometimes they speak the names of those who are held hostage. Sometimes they sing the Israeli national anthem. Um, and generally, as they say, bear witness to to the situation with the Israeli hostages.

And so what do we know, if anything, about the suspected attacker?

And so what do we know, if anything, about the suspected attacker?

We don't know a lot yet. Um, he is a 45 year old man. His name is Mohammad Sabri Suleiman, and he comes from Colorado Springs, which is another city in Colorado.

We don't know a lot yet. Um, he is a 45 year old man. His name is Mohammad Sabri Suleiman, and he comes from Colorado Springs, which is another city in Colorado.

And I guess, what do we know about his motive? Like, are the crime enforcement agencies, personnel from those agencies saying anything?

And I guess, what do we know about his motive? Like, are the crime enforcement agencies, personnel from those agencies saying anything?

Well, the there's been a bit of discord. It's probably a good way to describe it. So the FBI have said it was a targeted terror attack. The director, Kash Patel, was very labelled it as such. Soon after the the attack. Um, the Colorado attorney general also says it appears to be a hate crime, given the group that was targeted. Um, the Boulder police chief has been a little more guarded. He said it's too soon to speculate about a motive, but the state and federal investigation teams are looking into this. There is no immediate indication that the suspect was linked to any particular group or network. According to the FBI's top local agent in Colorado. But he also said that this will be a thorough and complete investigation and the checks are ongoing.

Well, the there's been a bit of discord. It's probably a good way to describe it. So the FBI have said it was a targeted terror attack. The director, Kash Patel, was very labelled it as such. Soon after the the attack. Um, the Colorado attorney general also says it appears to be a hate crime, given the group that was targeted. Um, the Boulder police chief has been a little more guarded. He said it's too soon to speculate about a motive, but the state and federal investigation teams are looking into this. There is no immediate indication that the suspect was linked to any particular group or network. According to the FBI's top local agent in Colorado. But he also said that this will be a thorough and complete investigation and the checks are ongoing.

And so how unusual is an attack like this?

And so how unusual is an attack like this?

Well, it does come just a couple of weeks after another attack on two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C..

Well, it does come just a couple of weeks after another attack on two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C..

This was a shocking crime in the heart of Washington. A young couple shot dead as they left an evening event at the Jewish Museum.

This was a shocking crime in the heart of Washington. A young couple shot dead as they left an evening event at the Jewish Museum.

They were a couple about to get engaged, and they were leaving an event that was hosted by the American Jewish community at the Jewish Museum in Washington when they were shot dead Ed by a man who was also allegedly calling out Free Palestine.

They were a couple about to get engaged, and they were leaving an event that was hosted by the American Jewish community at the Jewish Museum in Washington when they were shot dead Ed by a man who was also allegedly calling out Free Palestine.

Eyewitnesses unwittingly sheltered him right after the attack.

Eyewitnesses unwittingly sheltered him right after the attack.

Around 907, we heard gunshots and then a guy came in looking really distressed and we thought that he just, like, needed help.

Around 907, we heard gunshots and then a guy came in looking really distressed and we thought that he just, like, needed help.

Little did we know, he was somebody that executed people in cold blood. He was the shooter, the shooter.

Little did we know, he was somebody that executed people in cold blood. He was the shooter, the shooter.

And so, Catherine, just to wrap up, what are the wider implications of this attack?

And so, Catherine, just to wrap up, what are the wider implications of this attack?

I guess they're yet to be seen, in a way. The shooting in Washington, um, a couple of weeks ago, uh, fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. And it has been reported that there has been a rise in anti-Semitic events in America since the October 7th attacks by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza as well. Um, so it will be, Uh, yes. I guess we'll have to wait and see how this plays out in America and around the world as tensions rise over this issue.

I guess they're yet to be seen, in a way. The shooting in Washington, um, a couple of weeks ago, uh, fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. And it has been reported that there has been a rise in anti-Semitic events in America since the October 7th attacks by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza as well. Um, so it will be, Uh, yes. I guess we'll have to wait and see how this plays out in America and around the world as tensions rise over this issue.

Well, thank you so much, Catherine, for your time.

Well, thank you so much, Catherine, for your time.

No worries. Thank you.

No worries. Thank you.

Today's episode of The Morning Edition was produced by Tammy Mills, with technical assistance by Josh towers. Tom McKendrick is our head of audio. To listen to our episodes as soon as they drop, follow the Morning Edition on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Our newsrooms are powered by subscriptions, so to support independent journalism, visit The Age or smh.com.au. Subscribe and to stay up to date, sign up to our Morning Edition newsletter to receive a summary of the day's most important news in your inbox every morning. Links are in the show. Notes. I'm Samantha Selinger. Morris. Thanks for listening.

Today's episode of The Morning Edition was produced by Tammy Mills, with technical assistance by Josh towers. Tom McKendrick is our head of audio. To listen to our episodes as soon as they drop, follow the Morning Edition on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Our newsrooms are powered by subscriptions, so to support independent journalism, visit The Age or smh.com.au. Subscribe and to stay up to date, sign up to our Morning Edition newsletter to receive a summary of the day's most important news in your inbox every morning. Links are in the show. Notes. I'm Samantha Selinger. Morris. Thanks for listening.