Australian Jewish groups warn of violence after Colorado attack

Australian Jewish organisations have warned that antisemitic violence could strike locally following a firebomb attack on a pro-Israel rally in Colorado that injured 12 people, including a Holocaust survivor.

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said it was “deeply alarmed” by the weekend attack and warned that Australia was not immune to such violence.

“We cannot be complacent to think this level of violence can’t and won’t happen in Australia,” the ZFA said in a statement. “Jewish communities should never have to live in fear.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said the attack showed “the inevitable link between hate-filled rhetoric and hate-filled violence erupting in our universities, streets and media”.

“The Colorado attacker wanted to kill Zionists. Here in Australia, hate-filled rhetoric against Zionists is becoming normalised,” Rubenstein said. “But almost every Jewish Australian is a Zionist, because – left or right, religious or secular – we want Israel to continue existing.”

The attack targeted a peaceful demonstration in Boulder calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza for more than 600 days. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, allegedly disguised himself as a gardener before throwing homemade firebombs into the crowd, creating “large flames” that burned eight people.

Among the injured was Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, a Holocaust survivor.

According to court documents, Soliman told police he attacked the group to avenge “his people” and wanted to “kill all Zionist people”. He had planned the attack for a year, learning to make Molotov cocktails on YouTube and attempting to acquire firearms.

Police found 16 unused firebombs at the scene and discovered gasoline, rags and a Quran in Soliman’s car. The Egyptian-born attacker was in the United States illegally on an expired tourist visa.

The ZFA described reports that the attacker wanted to “kill all Zionist people” as “profoundly disturbing” and said this could “only be viewed as a code word for Jews”.

Rubenstein warned that “hate-filled rhetoric” had real consequences and called on politicians and law enforcement to push back against antisemitism.

“It’s not enough for politicians to mouth ineffectual platitudes in the face of hatred,” he said. “They need to make clear to every Australian that such hatred is abhorrent and has no place in our country, otherwise lives will ultimately be at risk.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “vicious terror attack” and blamed it on “blood libels against the Jewish state and people”.

Rally organisers said weekly demonstrations would continue despite the attack.

WITH TIMES OF ISRAEL