Flamethrower Attack on Boulder Rally Investigated as Terrorism
By The Media Line Staff
A 45-year-old Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was arrested Sunday after attacking a pro-Israel rally in downtown Boulder with a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary devices, injuring eight people. The incident, which took place during a weekly event advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas, is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an act of terrorism.
Witnesses say Soliman shouted anti-Israel slogans, including “Free Palestine” and “End Zionists,” as he threw Molotov cocktails and sprayed fire toward demonstrators near the Pearl Street Mall. The victims, aged between 52 and 88, included an 88-year-old woman who was critically injured. Four people remain hospitalized.
“We will never tolerate this kind of hatred,” said US Attorney General Pam Bondi. FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek added, “It is clear that this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism.”
Authorities found over a dozen unlit firebombs near Soliman and additional materials in his vehicle, including references to “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.” According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman told agents he had planned the attack for over a year, waiting until after his daughter’s graduation. He reportedly researched bomb-making online.
President Isaac Herzog of Israel expressed solidarity with the victims, calling the assault a “vile act of terror” and vowing that “no Jew, anywhere, stands alone.” Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the incident as a “vicious act of terrorism,” while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “Terror has no place in our great country.”
Soliman is facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder and use of incendiary weapons. He remains in custody with a $10 million bond. Authorities believe he acted alone. Immigration officials said Soliman entered the US legally in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired six months later. He filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a now-expired work permit in March 2023.
The attack took place during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, deepening concerns among US Jewish communities already shaken by recent violent incidents, including the fatal shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington. The group targeted in Boulder, Run for Their Lives, has been holding weekly rallies to raise awareness about Israeli hostages in Gaza.
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