Category World News

In a Sunday attack on a group of Boulder, Colorado residents who were campaigning for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, eight people were hurt.

Police arrested a man who allegedly threw incendiary devices towards people. The FBI described the attack as an “act of terror” and said it was looking into it.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the attack as an anti-Semitic act in a social media post.

Here is what we know so far:

What transpired in Boulder, Colorado?

According to an official news release shared by the Boulder Police Department, a group of people were walking in a “regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful event” aimed at sprang up support for the release of the prisoners held in Gaza after being attacked. The police were called at 1: 36pm (10: 36 GMT).

Witnesses reported seeing the attacker launching fire-proven incendiary devices at the gathering while using a makeshift flamethrower, according to the news release.

A shirtless man appeared to be holding two glass bottles that resembled Molotov cocktails in witness videos that were circulated on social media.

What is a Molotov cocktail?

A very basic incendiary weapon is a Molotov cocktail. A wick-covered bottle filled with flammable liquid is used to set the bottle on fire before being thrown at a target.

They are named after Vyacheslav Molotov, the foreign minister of the Soviet Union during World War II. Finland was heavily bombed by the Soviet Union in 1939 following its invasion. Lolotov argued that only food packages were dropped by the Soviet Union.

In response, the Finns threw handmade explosives towards Soviet tanks, sarcastically dubbing them “Molotov cocktails”.

What city was the target of the attack?

The pedestrian mall in Boulder’s outdoor Pearl Street Mall, which extends four blocks, was the site of the attack. It is home to retail stores, art galleries and restaurants. The University of Colorado, Boulder is located 0.7 kilometers away from the mall, which is two minutes drive.

What was the victim’s circumstance?

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser released a statement on Sunday, saying that the attack was “against a group that meets weekly on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of the hostages in Gaza”.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, released a statement claiming the event was a part of a global campaign called “Run for Their Lives,” which was criticized in January for defending billionaire Elon Musk’s salute at a rally for US President Donald Trump.

Worldwide, there are weekly gatherings where members of the Jewish community demonstrate solidarity with the captives that Hamas and other Palestinian organizations took on October 7, 2023 during weekly gatherings.

Run for Their Lives gatherings take place in 230 locations in 24 countries, including Brazil, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain. This event is held in Colorado at two locations, one in Boulder and the other in Denver’s Washington Park.

On October 7, armed Palestinian groups abducted about 251 Israeli captives. While some captives were returned in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, or rescued, others have died in captivity. Israel claims that 35 of the 59 captives who have been held hostage have passed away.

More than 61,700 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli military bombardment and other attacks, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.

Who was the suspect and what did he say during the attack?

According to a news release from Boulder Police, El Paso County resident Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been identified as the suspect in the Boulder attack.

Soliman suffered other injuries in the attack, but it’s not clear what caused his injuries.

The release says that Soliman was medically evaluated at a hospital and then was booked in the Boulder County Jail for multiple charges. What exactly these accusations were, according to the release.

During the attack, Soliman yelled, “Free Palestine,” according to the news release.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, claimed in a post on X that the Boulder attack was carried out by an “illegal alien”.

Miller claimed Soliman had overstayed a tourist visa that the suspect had been granted by the former US president, without naming him. The Biden Administration issued him a work permit in response. Suicidal migration must be fully reversed”, Miller wrote.

Soliman’s immigration status in the US was not independently verified by Al Jazeera.

What are the victims’ details known to us?

Law enforcement officials said that eight people were injured. Four men and four women between the ages of 52 and 88 are among them.

The victims were transported to Denver-area hospitals.

How are authorities responding?

According to the news release, the Boulder Police Department immediately contacted the FBI. This is being looked into as a terror attack by the FBI.

“This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts”, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wrote in an X post. When the circumstances call for it, “We will speak out loud about these incidents.”

In an X-post, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that his team was already conducting an investigation into the “targeted terror attack” and that law enforcement was present at the scene.

Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, wrote in an X post that the department was working on the situation with its “interagency partners”, including the FBI.

What has recently occurred on the ground?

All roads in downtown Boulder have been reopened, with the exception of a block on Pearl Street, which “should be reopened in the next few hours,” according to an update from the Boulder Police Department on X on Monday at 05:53 GMT.

What have been the reactions?

In a news release from Boulder Police, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek was quoted as saying, “We will continue to ensure that justice is pursued quickly, support is provided to victims and their communities, and preventative action is taken to protect everyone’s safety.”

Many Boulder residents were frightened and had questions about the attack, according to Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn. “Boulder has recovered from acts of violence before and we will again recover. This area needs to unite, I urge you. He was quoted as saying in the same news release that “this is not the time to divide.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Saar wrote on X on Monday: “Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado. This is pure antisemitism, fuelled only by the media’s bloody libels. He didn’t explain what he meant by this.

US Senate Democratic Party Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X: “Tonight, a peaceful demonstration was targeted in a vile, antisemitic act of terror. Jews are enraged once more by repeated acts of terrorism and violence.

We’re all praying for the victims of a targeted terrorist attack in Boulder, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday.

We’re united in prayer for the victims of a targeted terror attack this afternoon in Boulder.

Our wonderful nation should not tolerate terrorism.

Many Democrats have released online statements condemning the attack and describing it as anti-Semitic.

The Jewish community is once more devastated by pain and heartache less than two weeks after the horrific antisemitic attack at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, and two years of relentless antisemitic attacks nationwide. &nbsp ,

Tonight, a peaceful demonstration…

On X, Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren, wrote, “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community, which once again seems to have been targeted with hate. We all have a responsibility to stop these antisemitic acts”.

Another terrible attack, this time in Colorado’s Boulder. The Jewish community, which once more seems to have been targeted with hate, is in my thoughts with the victims, their families, and me. We all have a responsibility to stop these antisemitic acts. https://t.co/KrAA3wwHPi

House Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, released a statement on X, saying: “Our heartfelt prayers are with all of our Jewish brothers and sisters impacted by this unconscionable act of terror, and we thank law enforcement for their swift response. Antisemitism is not tolerated in our country or anywhere else in the world. It needs to be crushed. We stand with the Jewish community today and always”.

My response to the Colorado antisemitic attack. pic . twitter.com/EUpdnl9M6K

Have recent incidents been similar to these?

At least four Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted tents housing displaced families in al-Mawasi, southwest of Gaza, was captured on video. Israel had designated the area as a “safe zone,” but since it broke the ceasefire, Israel has withdrawn all references to its ostensibly protected designation.

As it announced 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, Israel claims that its expansion of settlements is to “prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.” Israeli officials are daring the world to stop them, claims Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu.

Seoul, South Korea: After six hours of emergency martial law, hundreds of days of protests, violence at a Seoul court, and President Yoon Suk-yeol’s eventual impeachment, the country is now hours away from appointing a new leader in an effort to restore stability to an unrest-stricken nation.

South Koreans will cast ballots for one of the five presidential candidates on Tuesday, between 6 am and 8 pm (21:00 to 11:00 GMT), in a race that is largely led by Lee Jae-myung, a member of the opposition Democratic Party. Kim Moon-soo, the People’s Party candidate, leads him in the polls.

Both of these two leading contenders are expected to take Yoon’s place in the 44.39 million eligible vote. The ex-president was last week a witness to his fifth court hearing where he is accused of launching an insurrection and abusing power because of his failure to impose martial law on December 3.

Yoon could receive the most severe punishment, including life in prison or even the death penalty, if found guilty.

In light of the political unrest brought on by the brief enactment of military rule, which still resonates in every aspect of society and has sharply divided the country along political lines, voter turnout is expected to be at an all-time high in the election. Those who continue to back Yoon and those who vehemently oppose his declaration of martial law.

Lee is currently the clear front-runner in the Democratic Party, with People Power Party Kim’s 36% and Lee’s 49 percent in Gallup Korea’s most recent poll on May 28 declaring him the favorite to win.

Voting started early on Friday, which ended with the second-highest turnout in the country’s history, at 34.74 percent, while overseas voting from 118 nations reached a record high of 79.5%.

Second chance for Lee Jae-myung

In the most recent presidential election in South Korea’s history, Yoon narrowly won with a 2-0 lead over Lee.

Lee now has a second chance at the top office and a chance to improve his political reputation following his humiliating defeat in 2022, which came with a narrow 0.73 percent of the vote.

In violation of election law, the Supreme Court of South Korea ruled about a month ago that Lee had spread false information during his presidential campaign for 2022.

Lee also survived a stabbing attack to his neck during a news conference in Busan last year, in addition to surviving a number of bribery allegations during his time as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province, which he claimed were politically motivated.

The courts have fortunately agreed to postpone any further hearings of Lee’s ongoing trials until after the election.

This time around, Lee addressed his supporters from behind bulletproof glass while counterterrorism units were patrolling on foot as snipers patrolled the crowds for potential threats.

Conservative lawmakers, his former adversaries, who have publicly supported his run for office numerous times in the last month, have also joined his campaign and seen him as a route back to political stability.

Kim’s parliamentary colleague, Kim Sang-wook, left the party in early May to join Lee’s Democratic Party, which was a particularly humiliating blow.

Only 55% of conservative voters who voted for Yoon in the 2022 election said they would support Kim this time around, according to polling data from Hankyoreh, the country’s top media outlet.

These shifts reflect the mainstream conservative party’s crisis, which is also evidenced by Lee’s appeal to both moderate and conservative voters.

Future president is “heavy burdened” with.

According to Lim Woon-taek, a sociology professor at Keimyung University and former member of the Presidential Commission on Policy Planning, “the events of the martial law, insurrection attempt, and impeachment process have dealt a severe blow to our democracy.”

According to Lim, “the new president will be saddled with a lot of baggage when taking office,” Lim said.

Youth unemployment, social inequality, and climate change are all pressing issues that Yoon’s administration failed to address.

Last year, non-regular employees in South Korea, including contract workers and part-timers, made up 38% of all wage and salary workers, according to recent research.

Lee has pledged to support business-friendly policies and to concentrate on investing in artificial intelligence and research while avoiding putting an emphasis on gender conflicts in social issues.

His political stance has significantly changed since he first promoted left-wing ideas like a universal basic income while moving up the political scale.

Events that occurred on the night of the December 3 declaration of martial law also contributed to Lee’s reputation as a leader of political freedom. Lee, a former human rights lawyer, was live-streamed circling the National Assembly compound to urge other legislators to vote and reject Yoon’s call to mobilize the military.

Lee’s most important campaign pledge was to tighten controls on a potential president’s ability to do the same and prosecute those who were tied to Yoon’s martial law scheme. Additionally, he wants to see a constitutional amendment that would change the current five-year term to two, which was previously only one-term.

Kim, Lee’s closest rival, has concurred with these policies and kept a distance from Yoon, but the former labor activist-turned-hardline conservative has also claimed that the former president’s impeachment was inappropriate.

Trump, tariffs, and the new course of South Korea

Trump’s proposal to impose tariffs on important South Korean exports like steel, semiconductors, and cars also affects the election.

In response to those threats, Kim and Lee both pledged to ease business regulations while Lee has promised to encourage growth and demand. Kim also emphasized that he intends to discuss the tariffs with Trump right away at a summit.

On the other hand, Lee has promised a more logical foreign policy plan that would promote both maintaining US relations with the administration and promoting “national interests” like boosting cooperation with neighbors China and Russia.

Kim has pledged to increase the country’s military might in order to combat Pyongyang, and Lee wants more security support from the US, while Lee is determined to ease tensions that have reached unprecedented levels in recent years.

Sejong City, the country’s new administrative capital, would be the location of the National Assembly and the presidential office, according to Lee, a move that has come under the guise of a series of setbacks in recent years.

The climate situation is another significant issue that Keimyung University’s Lim hopes the future leader will concentrate on more, according to Lim.

If we don’t take action right away, Lim warned that “our country is regarded as a climate villain” and that we will face future restrictions on our exports.

The fate of our nation will ultimately depend on which president will address these issues like the previous administration, or whether they will confront the media and jump right into the main problems that are afflicting our society.

The results of Tuesday’s vote are anticipated to be released either later on Tuesday or early on Wednesday morning.

Yoon was declared the winner of the 2022 election at 4:40 am the morning following the election.

The outcome might be known as early as Tuesday night because Lee is the clear winner in this election.