Holocaust Survivor Among Victims of Boulder Attack, as Police Release Suspect's Mugshot

One of the eight people injured in Sunday’s attack on a march in Boulder, Colo., held in honor of Israeli hostages in Gaza, was a Holocaust survivor.

A friend of the victim’s, whose identity has not been made public, shared this information in an interview with KUSA.

“She is an amazing person,” Chany Scheiner said of the female victim in an interview with the station.

Scheiner added that the woman has spoken at local synagogues and schools about her life and having survived the Holocaust.

“She is passionate about standing up for good things and she is an extremely exceptional person. Always a smile on her face,” Scheiner said. “Her life wasn’t easy, but she is just a bright light. And anybody who is her friend is a friend for life.”

The eight victims of Sunday’s attack — four men and four women — were all between the ages of 54 and 88, a spokesperson for the city of Boulder tells PEOPLE.

Their identities have not been released.

All eight were participating in the peaceful event when an individual attacked the group with a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd while yelling “Free Palestine,” according to a news release from the city of Boulder.

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The suspect has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, according to authorities. Soliman lives in El Paso County, which is approximately 100 miles south of Boulder.

Boulder County Jail records show that Soliman faces multiple charges including first-degree assault, attempted first-degree murder, criminal attempt to commit a felony and crimes against an at-risk group.

Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said at a news conference on Sunday that the victims’ injuries ranged from serious to minor, and noted that Soliman received treatment at a local hospital as well before being booked into jail.

Soliman can be seen with a heavy bandage on his ear in his mugshot.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now working with the Boulder Police Department to “process the crime scene, interview witnesses and gather evidence,” according to the release.

That same release also said that the FBI “is investigating the attack as a targeted act of terrorism.”

Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, later confirmed that on X, writing: “FBI personnel are on the scene in Boulder, Colo., along with local law enforcement. We are investigating this incident as an act of terror, and targeted violence.”

Chief Redfearn tried to provide some words of comfort for residents of the city on Sunday, saying: “Boulder is not immune to tragedy sadly and I know a lot of people are scared right now and questioning how this happened and why.”

He continued: “Boulder has recovered from acts of violence before and we will again recover. I urge this community to come together. Now is not the time to be divisive.”

Anyone with information about the Boulder attack is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with digital media — videos, social media posts, digital recordings — is asked to upload that at www.fbi.gov/boulderattack.