Lone wolf attacks in Boulder and D.C. highlight the difficulties in securing public spaces

Once again, the war in Gaza has come home to America.

BOULDER, Colo. — Once again, the war in Gaza has come home to America.

A man using what police called a "makeshift flamethrower" launched a gruesome attack on demonstrators in Boulder on Sunday, raising questions about why security wasn't stronger in the wake of an earlier attack in Washington, D.C.

Run for Their Lives, the organization behind the long-standing demonstration that advocated for the return of Israeli hostages, had anticipated that its members would have safety concerns.

The group offered principles to make the events safer, including "don't protest," "be polite and peaceful" and "don't disturb your neighbors."

"Focus on humanity," the guidance on its website says. "This is about innocent children, women, the elderly, and other civilians being held by terrorists—not about the war."