What we know about the Colorado mall ‘terror attack’: Unbiased Updates, June 2, 2025
A man armed with a makeshift flamethrower attacks pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. Here’s what we know about the suspect and the attack.
Additionally, Russia and Ukraine discussions resume in Turkey, while drones continue to fly overhead. The two war-torn nations will engage in peace talks just a day after their most significant assaults in months.
And no, you weren’t just imagining things: the northern lights lit up the skies across the U.S. overnight, even in regions that seldom witness them.
8 hurt with ‘makeshift flamethrower’ in ‘act of terror’ in Boulder, Colorado
Eight people were injured during an attack at Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, June 1. Authorities said at a press conference that the suspect, who is now in custody, used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device in the attack.
Investigators claimed the suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, used a makeshift flamethrower, shouted “free Palestine” and threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd gathered to support hostages still held in Gaza.
Four men and four women, all between 52 and 88 years old, were taken to hospitals with burns. One remains in critical condition.
The FBI has launched an investigation into what they call a “targeted, anti-semitic terror attack.”
“I saw fire, I saw people falling and screaming and crying and tripping. I saw the attacker have a Molotov, he had three Molotov cocktails, one of them he threw inside of a group at the group and one lady lit on fire from head to toe and then the other four people were also injured and in the fire but not as bad as the first one,” witness Alex Osante said.
Osante continued, “And then the attacker came out from the bushes and the trees the second time and he threw another cocktail, and on the second one, he lit himself on fire accidentally. I imagine it’s accidentally, he seemed to have a bulletproof vest on or some kind of vest and then a shirt underneath it and after he lit himself on fire he took off the vest and the shirt and he was shirtless,”
Bystander video shows police arresting a shirtless man, but authorities haven’t officially confirmed whether he’s Soliman.
The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment but is now in police custody. He faces federal charges for using an incendiary device during a felony. Other charges are likely to follow.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stated that her counter-terrorism team is collaborating with the FBI and local law enforcement, describing it as a “targeted terror attack” against a weekly gathering of the Jewish community.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis — who is Jewish — condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous and targeted act.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that the victims were targeted simply because they were Jews.
Russia and Ukraine hold ceasefire talks in Turkey as war escalates
High-pressure ceasefire negotiations are taking place in Istanbul this morning. Yet on the battlefield, the conflict continues unabated.
Just a day before the meeting, Ukraine launched its boldest drone assault yet, striking deep into Russia and damaging or destroying at least 40 long-range bombers. The operation, called “Spider web,” took more than a year to plan and caught Moscow off guard. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “a brilliant operation.”
Russia retaliated by unleashing 472 drones in its largest attack of the war, alongside missiles that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training site.
Despite the spike in violence, both sides sent teams to Turkey.
Ukraine has pushed for a full ceasefire, prisoner swaps and the return of abducted children. But with no draft deal in hand and trust in short supply, hopes for real progress with Russia remain slim.
The Trump administration has warned that it may withdraw from facilitating negotiations if neither side demonstrates genuine progress toward peace.
China claims US violated trade deal after Trump accused Beijing.
China has accused the U.S. of breaching the 90-day trade truce, following President Donald Trump’s assertion on Truth Social that China “totally violated” the agreement.
The truce, announced last month, has temporarily halted most tariff escalations between the two countries. However, China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that Beijing has fulfilled its obligations, while the U.S. has imposed what it calls “discriminatory and restrictive measures.”
New export controls on AI chips, a reported pause on U.S. sales of chip design software and plans to revoke visas for Chinese students.
In an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, June 1, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China isn’t complying either, accusing Beijing of withholding rare earth exports that were part of the deal.
“I am confident that when President Trump and Party Chairman Xi have a call, this will be ironed out. However, the fact that they are withholding some of the products they agreed to release during our agreement — maybe it’s a glitch in the Chinese system, maybe it’s intentional — we’ll see after the president speaks with the party chairman,” Bessent said.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett stated that Trump is anticipated to speak with Xi this week in an effort to reset the truce.
Trump-aligned candidate narrowly wins presidency in Poland
A surprising political upheaval occurred in Poland on Monday morning, June 2, where a right-wing populist and political novice narrowly claimed the presidency.
Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and ex-amateur boxer, narrowly defeated liberal mayor Rafał Trzaskowski by under one percentage point, reinforcing the power of the “Nationalist law and justice party.” This unexpected win jeopardizes Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist agenda, which aims to reverse judicial reforms and enhance civil rights.
Nawrocki, an ally of Trump who campaigned on Catholic values, migration restrictions and anti-EU sentiments, now wields veto power over Tusk’s administration, leading to an intense power battle in a highly polarized nation. His win was driven by support from right-wing groups and a late surge from CPAC, strengthening the connection between Poland’s populist movement and America’s conservative right.
Hurricane season begins, forecasters predict ‘above-average’ activity
Hurricane season has officially begun, starting on June 1 and continuing for 183 days until Nov. 30. Forecasters predict that hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic Ocean are most probable to happen during this period. Although the season is beginning quietly. But experts also said it won’t last.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that the hurricane season has started without a “named storm” having formed in the Atlantic.
Typically, the first storm appears around June 20th, with about 14 named storms developing each season. However, this year is expected to be busier than usual, as noted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University.
This year is expected to see heightened activity, driven in part by record-high ocean temperatures, which are a key factor. These two organizations are forecasting between six and ten significant hurricanes.
In 2024, five hurricanes made landfall in the U.S., including Hurricane Helene, which resulted in over 200 fatalities.
Northern lights put on rare US show over the weekend
The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, dazzled viewers across various regions of the United States this weekend. Reports of the cosmic display extended as far south as San Antonio, Texas, and into New Mexico.
Residents in Washington State, Wyoming and parts of the Mid-Atlantic also enjoyed glimpses of the vibrant skies. This spectacular phenomenon was initiated by a severe geomagnetic storm, classified as level 4 out of 5 by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Editor’s Note: On Friday, May 30, Straight Arrow News published coverage about a paraglider allegedly swept into the sky by an updraft in China. The video accompanying that story is now under review due to concerns that it may have been AI-generated. We removed the video from the article as a precaution and are investigating its authenticity.
We are committed to accuracy and transparency, and will share updates as appropriate. Thank you for your trust.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
