Suspected Terror Attack in Boulder: Man Charged with Hate Crime After Firebombing Pro-Israel Group

Boulder, CO – A peaceful demonstration advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza turned into a scene of terror on Sunday, June 1, 2025, when a man allegedly hurled Molotov cocktails at participants, injuring eight people. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been arrested and charged with a federal hate crime, along with multiple other felony counts including attempted murder and use of explosives. While early reports indicated murder charges, Boulder police have clarified that no victims have died.

The incident, which the FBI is investigating as a “targeted act of violence” and an act of terrorism, occurred at approximately 1:26 PM local time at Boulder’s popular Pearl Street Mall. Witnesses reported seeing Soliman, who is an Egyptian national, shouting “Free Palestine” and “End Zionist!” as he attacked the “Run for Their Lives” group. This organization holds weekly events to raise awareness for the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

Attack Details and Victim Demographics
Authorities state that Soliman used a “makeshift flamethrower” and threw two lit Molotov cocktails at the individuals, causing burn injuries to eight people. The victims, four men and four women, range in age from 52 to 88, with one person reportedly in critical condition. Among the injured is an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. During the attack, Soliman’s own clothing reportedly caught fire, leading him to remove his shirt, as seen in social media videos. A mugshot released by police shows him with facial injuries and a bandage on his right ear.

Federal charging documents reveal that Soliman allegedly had at least 14 additional unlit Molotov cocktails with him at the time of his arrest, along with a backpack weed sprayer containing gasoline. In his car, police found materials consistent with the incendiary devices and paperwork with the words “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.”

Suspect’s Background and Immigration Status
Further details emerging about Soliman indicate he had been planning the attack for a year, waiting until after his daughter’s graduation. After his arrest, he reportedly told police that Zionists were his targets and that he would conduct the attack again. The FBI defines “Zionist” in this context as “individuals who believe in the establishment of a Jewish state and are supportive of the government of Israel.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Soliman entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023. He then filed for asylum in September 2022. While he was granted work authorization in March 2023, that status lapsed in March 2025, meaning he had overstayed his visa by two months at the time of the attack. Reports also indicate he was denied a U.S. visa in 2005. The White House has been quick to criticize what it characterizes as lax immigration policies under the previous administration, linking Soliman’s presence in the U.S. to this attack.

Political Reactions and Rising Antisemitism
The Boulder attack occurred on the eve of Shavuot, a significant Jewish holiday commemorating the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The timing has further amplified condemnations from politicians across the spectrum.

US President Donald Trump vowed to prosecute the attacker “to the fullest extent of the law,” echoing administration officials who have blamed the attack on what they describe as lax immigration policies. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “Rest assured to all Jewish Americans across our great country, this president has your back. He’s not going to allow anyone to take part in violent terrorism in our county.”

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the attack a “vile, antisemitic act of terror,” emphasizing that “When antisemitism is allowed to fester, when it spreads unchecked, and when too many look the other way, history has shown us where it leads: to hatred, to violence, to terror.” Colorado Governor Jared Polis also condemned the attack, noting the recent antisemitic murders in Washington D.C.

This incident comes amidst a documented surge in antisemitic incidents in the United States. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that in 2024, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. reached an all-time high, with 9,354 incidents recorded. This marks a 5% increase from 2023 and a staggering 893% increase over the past decade. Notably, 58% of all incidents in 2024 contained elements related to Israel or Zionism, with a large portion occurring at or near anti-Israel protests. The ADL also reported that antisemitic incidents in the three months following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel skyrocketed by 361%. FBI data in September 2024 showed that anti-Jewish hate crimes had increased by 63% since 2023. Despite Jewish Americans constituting only 2% of the U.S. population, reported single-bias anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 15% of all reported hate crimes in 2023 and 68% of all reported religion-based hate crimes.

Soliman is expected to appear in court later today, with prosecutors scheduled to hold a news conference to provide further updates on the ongoing investigation.