Seven Injured in Molotov Cocktail Attack on Israeli Hostage Advocacy Group in Boulder
A terrorist hurled Molotov cocktails at members of a peaceful Israeli hostage advocacy group Sunday afternoon on Pearl Street, injuring seven people including an elderly woman who suffered severe burns when her clothing caught fire.
The attack targeted participants in Run For Their Lives, a global organization that holds weekly walks to raise awareness about hostages taken during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The assault occurred in downtown Boulder's central shopping district during peak pedestrian hours.
"The victim who is most deeply burned and has the worst burns was an older woman," said Miri Kornfeld, a Denver-based leader of Run For Their Lives in Skynews Afternoon Agenda Interview, "Unfortunately, when the terrorist, after saying Free Palestine and after saying slurs against Zionists and the Jewish people, launched his Molotov cocktail to the group, unfortunately, her clothing caught fire."
The elderly victim sustained burns across her body as other group members rolled her on the ground to extinguish the flames. Passersby threw water on victims to provide immediate aid, according to Kornfeld.
Four victims have been released from the hospital, while two remain under medical treatment for their injuries. Several participants suffered burns on their legs from the incendiary attack.
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Organization Suspends All Activities
Run For Their Lives has suspended all weekly walks worldwide until further notice following the attack. The organization operates 230 chapters across 35 states and maintains an international presence, conducting peaceful demonstrations every Sunday since its founding after the Oct. 7 attacks.
"All of the walks are actually going to be canceled now until further notice, until we can guarantee the safety of all of our walkers," Kornfeld said during a television interview following the attack.
The Boulder chapter represents one of two Colorado groups, alongside a Denver contingent that Kornfeld co-leads. Boulder sits approximately 45 minutes from Denver.
"It's terrifying to know that your community can be targeted in such a hateful act of terror when your group is as peaceful as they are," Kornfeld said. "We walk quietly. We walk peacefully. We're a family-friendly event."
Attack Details
The assault unfolded on Pearl Street, Boulder's main downtown thoroughfare popular with weekend pedestrians. The location's central nature meant the attack could have affected random passersby on a busy Sunday afternoon.
"The attack took place in a very central area in Boulder on Pearl Street. That's like Boulder's downtown," Kornfeld explained. "So it very well could have hit anybody who was passing by on a Sunday afternoon. It's a very popular place to walk."
Before launching the incendiary devices, the attacker shouted anti-Palestinian liberation slogans and anti-Jewish slurs, according to Kornfeld's account. The targeting of elderly participants particularly disturbed community leaders.
"The victims were mostly the elderly, which shows the cowardice of the attack as well," Kornfeld said.
Organizational Background
Run For Their Lives describes itself as a non-protest organization focused exclusively on hostage awareness. The group emerged immediately following Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 240 people taken hostage.
"Since Run For Their Lives is a peaceful, non-protest organization that started right after October 7th and now has 230 chapters all around the world that run peacefully every Sunday to raise awareness singularly about the hostages," Kornfeld said. "That is our only goal."
Current estimates indicate 58 hostages remain in Hamas custody in Gaza, according to Kornfeld. The hostages included individuals of various nationalities and religious backgrounds, not exclusively Israeli or Jewish captives.
Security Concerns
Jewish and Israel-related events typically coordinate with local law enforcement due to security concerns, according to Kornfeld. Run For Their Lives chapters maintain contact with police departments and precincts aware of their activities.
"It's very uncommon for Jewish or Israel-related events not to have security," Kornfeld said. "All of the Run for Their Lives groups around the world are definitely in touch with their local police departments and their precincts that are aware of it."
The organization's international leadership is treating the security breach seriously, implementing a global suspension of activities while reviewing safety protocols.
Rising Antisemitism Context
The attack occurs amid documented increases in antisemitic incidents globally since the Oct. 7 attacks and subsequent Gaza conflict. Kornfeld, who serves as director of Stand With Us in Colorado, an international nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism and Israel education, emphasized the global nature of current tensions.
"Around the world, we are seeing a rise in antisemitism as a result," Kornfeld said. "It's important to keep in mind that this is not just an issue that's confined to one specific place in the world. This is a global issue."
Stand With Us operates under the motto "education is the road to peace," reflecting its approach to addressing regional conflicts through dialogue and understanding.
"So that is truly what we believe, is that if we are able to find common ground with people and if we are able to educate the masses and the uneducated about what is going on on the ground, that will lead to hopefully a better situation for everybody on the ground, Israelis, Palestinians, and everybody," Kornfeld said.
Community Impact
The Boulder attack represents a significant escalation in violence against peaceful advocacy groups. The incident occurred just days after the murder of two Israeli embassy employees, adding to community concerns about targeted violence.
"It's quite a shock to the community, I must say," Kornfeld said regarding local reaction to the attack.
The suspension of Run For Their Lives activities affects a network that has maintained consistent weekly demonstrations for over 16 months. The organization's peaceful approach and family-friendly events had not previously experienced violent targeting.
Boulder's Pearl Street serves as a central gathering place for the community, making the attack location particularly significant for local residents. The downtown area's popularity means the incident affected broader public perception of safety in central Boulder.
Broader Implications
The attack underscores growing tensions surrounding Middle East-related advocacy in American communities. The targeting of a group focused specifically on hostage awareness, rather than broader political positions, represents a concerning development in domestic security.
Kornfeld emphasized the universal nature of the hostage issue, noting that captives include individuals from various backgrounds. The organization's singular focus on this humanitarian concern differentiates it from broader political movements.
"Antisemitism should be condemned at the highest level possible, as well as the attacks that happened in Israel on October 7th against innocent civilians," Kornfeld said.
The incident highlights challenges facing advocacy groups attempting to maintain public presence while ensuring participant safety. The global suspension of Run For Their Lives activities demonstrates how single violent incidents can impact international organizations.
Local law enforcement continues investigating the attack while the community processes the implications of targeted violence against peaceful demonstrators. The incident serves as a stark reminder of escalating tensions affecting American communities far from the Middle East conflict's geographic center.
The attack's timing on a routine Sunday afternoon in a popular public space emphasizes the vulnerability of peaceful advocacy groups and the broader challenges of maintaining civil discourse around contentious international issues.
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