BOULDER, Colorado —
A peaceful walk turned into a scene of terror on Sunday when a man allegedly hurled firebombs into a crowd gathered to support Israeli hostages. Twelve people were hurt in the attack, which took place in the heart of Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall.
The suspect, identified by authorities as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, now faces 42 state charges, including eight counts of attempted first-degree murder, along with a federal hate crime.
Witnesses say Soliman shouted “Free Palestine” as he tossed Molotov cocktails into the group participating in the weekly “Run for Their Lives” demonstration. The event, held every Sunday, calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel.
“Suddenly, people were screaming and running. It was chaos,” said Sara Mendel, a local resident who had joined the event for the first time. “I saw people on the ground, burned. It was terrifying.”
Police say eight people were initially hospitalised, two with serious injuries. Four more victims came forward on Monday, bringing the total injured to 12.
A Planned Attack
According to a FBI affidavit, Soliman said he had been planning the assault for over a year. He reportedly told officers he waited until after his daughter’s graduation to carry it out.
“He wanted to kill all Zionist people,” the FBI document said. “He stated he would do it again.”
Soliman arrived at the site just minutes before the event began. In his car, police later found a plastic container with 14 unused Molotov cocktails.
The FBI believes the attack was motivated by anti-Zionist hatred. Federal prosecutors have charged Soliman with a hate crime involving race, religion, or national origin.
Visa, Immigration Questions
Soliman, an Egyptian national, entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a temporary visitor visa. That visa expired in February 2023, but according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, his asylum application remains under review.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said:
“The Colorado terrorist attack suspect, Mohamed Soliman, is illegally in our country.”
However, she later told NBC News that his asylum claim is still pending, meaning Soliman had not yet exhausted all legal options for remaining in the U.S.
A City on Edge
The incident comes just days after a separate violent episode in Washington, D.C., where a man opened fire outside the Capitol Jewish Museum, killing two Israeli embassy staffers. In that attack as well, the shooter reportedly shouted, “Free Palestine!”
Now, Boulder’s quiet downtown has become part of a growing wave of tension surrounding the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, with political discourse increasingly spilling into the streets.
Local leaders have called for calm.
“We must not let hate divide us,” said Mayor Aaron Brockett in a press briefing. “Violence has no place in our community—no matter the cause.”
What Comes Next
Soliman remains in custody and is expected to appear in court later this week. Federal authorities say more charges may follow.
“This is an active investigation,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “We are committed to finding out how this attack was planned and whether others may have been involved.”
As the wounded recover, Boulder residents are left reeling.
“This city is grieving,” said Mendel, still shaken. “We came to walk in peace. We never expected fire.”
