A horrific incident of a targeted hate crime occurred during a gathering of a Jewish community in Boulder, Colorado on a recent Sunday, where a male assailant screamed ‘Free Palestine!’ and proceeded to use a variety of incendiary tools, one of which was described as a ‘DIY flamethrower’, to ignite individuals participating in the event. The nightmarish scene was punctuated by huge flames and terrified victims desperately dousing each other with water in an attempt to put out the fire. The attack resulted in serious injuries, with at least eight victims, a mix of males and females between 52 to 88 years old, impacted by the assailant’s actions. Two of the victims were severely injured to such an extent that they required an urgent air travel to a medical facility in the Denver metro region.
Among those injured in this gruesome incident, there was one individual whose condition was reported to be extremely critical. The good news is that no fatalities have been reported thus far from this grotesque attack. The FBI has begun an investigation, and they have labelled this horrifying act as a possible instance of terrorism. The unfortunate event took place during a regular Sunday walk, organized as part of a support initiative for Israeli hostages detained by Hamas in the Gaza region. One of the victims of the attack was a survivor of the Holocaust, an unfortunate and bitter irony.
The subject who perpetrated this horrendous act has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, now a prime suspect under arrest, facing both state charges and a federal hate crime indictment. Evidence has been collected and statements have been taken which show Soliman, a 45-year-old man, shirtless and shouting inflammatory statements such as ‘Palestine is free!’, ‘End Zionists!’ and ‘They are killers!’. He was noted to be carrying a pair of bottles, leading bystanders to make comments such as ‘he’s spraying alcohol’ and ‘he’s constructed Molotov cocktails.’
Soliman launched two Molotov cocktails during his rampage and police later uncovered an additional 14 such devices in the vicinity of the attack. He had appeared at the location close to 1 p.m., clothed with a utility vest over his shirt, and a garden sprayer in hand, filled with gasoline and poised to act. To the unsuspecting eye, he bore resemblance to an innocent gardener. Several eye witnesses have given accounts of Soliman seemingly going about his duties like any regular gardener.
During the process of interrogation, Soliman confessed to investigating both the production and use of Molotov cocktails via YouTube explorations, after which he purchased the required items and assembled the destructive devices. In addition to the glass bottles, police found what was described as a ‘backpack weed sprayer’, an item that was filled with a highly flammable gasoline, similar to the variety available at gas stations, along with xylene, a volatile and sweet-smelling liquid.
After being apprehended, Soliman was taken into custody at the Boulder County jail late on Sunday evening. He now faces numerous state-level felony charges, led by one count of employing explosives or incendiary materials during the execution of a felony. Authorities are currently looking into potential psychological or mental health issues that Soliman may have which could have influenced his actions.
Law enforcement took an additional step in the investigation, travelling approximately 100 miles south of Boulder to Colorado Springs, where they undertook examination of Soliman’s domicile. This gruesome assault on the Jewish community follows on the heels of another unfortunate incident less than two weeks ago, where two Israeli Embassy workers were fatally shot in Washington, DC, by a man claiming to act ‘for Gaza.’
Following these devastating incidents, a representative from the American Jewish Committee highlighted the fact that these episodes followed a growing crescendo of warnings from the Jewish community, against escalating chants of ‘globalize the Intifada’ and ‘resistance by any means necessary,’ viewed as incitements to violence. The impact of such calls for harmful resistance has now manifested twice within a fortnight’s time in America.
The scene of the violence on Sunday was a regular gathering, taking place each week since mid-October 2023, staged as a show of support for Israeli hostages currently held captive by Hamas, with the aim of raising awareness and petitioning for their release. It has now been revealed that Soliman had intentionally focused on this group, having methodically researched them online; he had knowledge of their Sunday meeting and had planned the attack for an extended period, but was waiting for his daughter to finish her graduation.
Several victims of this monstrous act were individuals well-known within their community. Among those injured were a mother and her daughter, both of whom sustained injuries during the attack. The elderly mother is a survivor of the Holocaust, already having endured more than her share of hardship in her 80s.”This was far from a pro-Israel rally or a political statement regarding ongoing conflicts,” explained an informant. Rather it was a peaceful group that consistently took part in a weekly walk for nearly 20 months, with the intention of drawing attention to the plight of Israeli captives held in hostage situations.
In another intriguing twist to the narrative, Soliman, who hails from Egypt, had originally arrived into the United States in August 2022 as a tourist under a B2 tourist visa. However, the B2 visa had expired as of February 2023, indicating that he had overstayed his welcome. Shortly after the expiry, Soliman proceeded to apply for asylum in the United States in September 2022.
Further investigation into Soliman’s background revealed that he was granted work authorization as recently as March 2023. The authorisation expired by the end of March 2025, but it appears Soliman continued to stay in the country without legal approval. The impact of Soliman’s actions has been painfully clear, as one spokesperson from the American Jewish Committee stated, “Six people were set on fire by a terrorist in Boulder, Colorado for the simple act of advocating for 58 hostages still in the hands of Hamas terrorists.”
In the wake of the Boulder attack, the CEO and president of Jewish Federations of North America declared it as another instance in a series of domestic terror attacks targeting the Jewish community. He emphasized the need for federal intervention, calling on the government to address the mounting threat. Part of his suggested plan included an increase in funding for a non-profit security grant program to address immediate needs, dedicated resources for extra protective personnel at Jewish establishments, and boosting the intelligence capacity of the FBI to nip potential domestic terrorist threats in the bud.
Moreover, he articulated the necessity for holding social media platforms accountable for their role in spreading antisemitic hate speech and promoting incitements to violence, both of which are increasingly contributing factors to such terror attacks. Overall, the depth of the issue has been laid bare by these recent violent attacks, and it calls for an immediate and comprehensive response in order to achieve greater safety and security for the Jewish community in the United States and beyond.