A peaceful march in Boulder, Colorado Pearl Street Mall turned into a scene of horror on Sunday afternoon after a man hurled Molotov cocktails and used what officials described as a “makeshift flamethrower” to attack participants. The incident left eight people burned, one critically injured, in what the FBI has confirmed is being investigated as a targeted act of terrorism.
The attack occurred during a weekly march organized by Run for Their Lives, a group dedicated to raising awareness for Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Around 1:26 p.m., the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly approached the group outside the historic Boulder County Courthouse and launched the assault while shouting anti-Zionist slogans.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as flames engulfed victims and bystanders scrambled with water bottles to douse the fire. “All I saw was someone on fire,” said marcher Ed Victor. “It was a Molotov cocktail equivalent, a gas bomb in a glass jar.” Another witness, Peter Irish, recalled, “It was traumatic to watch… people were writhing on the ground.”
Suspect Identified and in Custody: Accused Terrorist Linked to Anti-Semitic Outburst
According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Michalek, the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, yelled “Free Palestine” and “End Zionist” during the attack—statements that authorities say confirm a motive of hate-driven political violence. Soliman, who arrived in the U.S. in 2022 on a now-expired visa, had been living in Colorado Springs.
Law enforcement officials quickly apprehended Soliman, and the FBI launched a search operation in El Paso County, connected to the suspect’s recent residence. Investigators also isolated and examined a vehicle of interest found near the attack scene, which they confirmed belonged to Soliman.
Authorities emphasized that the crime is being treated as an act of domestic terrorism. “It’s clear this was a targeted act of violence,” Michalek said. Colorado Governor Jared Polis echoed that view, calling the attack “heinous and targeted” in a statement condemning the violence and antisemitism behind it.
Injuries and Medical Response: Holocaust Survivor Among Victims
Among the eight victims—four men and four women aged between 52 and 88—was a Holocaust refugee and a University of Colorado professor, according to Rabbi Israel Wilhelm of CU Boulder. One victim remains in critical condition. UCHealth confirmed two patients were airlifted to its burn unit, and others were treated at Boulder Community Health.
A visible burn scar now marks the plaza in front of the courthouse where the attack took place. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims but confirmed that most had been released from medical care by Sunday night. The group had stopped in front of the courthouse to sing, share stories, and read the names of hostages when the attack began.
University of Colorado President Todd Saliman said the university community was “shocked and horrified” by the violence and emphasized the importance of condemning such acts. “We must vocally and forcefully condemn this hateful act of violence targeting the Jewish community,” he said in a statement.
Community Reels, Officials Respond: ‘Hate Has No Place in Colorado’
The attack has sent shockwaves through Boulder’s Jewish community and beyond. A joint statement from local Jewish organizations expressed heartbreak and urged unity, vowing to continue working with authorities to ensure community safety. “We are shaken… but our hope is that we come together for one another,” the statement read.
Attorney General Phil Weiser also issued a strong denunciation, calling the act a likely hate crime. “People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer,” he said. “Hate has no place in Colorado.”
Boulder police said they were in prior contact with the march organizers, who had flagged potential security concerns before the event. Organizers said the walk was never intended as a protest but as a silent, peaceful demonstration in solidarity with the families of hostages.
National and International Outcry: Calls for Justice Grow
Top U.S. security officials and international leaders condemned the attack. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said federal agencies, including the FBI and National Counterterrorism Center, are coordinating closely on the investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino visited the scene personally and confirmed the agency’s full commitment to prosecuting the attacker.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement through Reuters, saying the victims were “attacked simply because they were Jews,” and urged U.S. authorities to prosecute the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law.
Governor Polis, who is Jewish, noted the tragedy’s timing—just ahead of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot—and the chilling echo of recent antisemitic attacks elsewhere in the U.S. “Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all,” he declared. “The suspect should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As Boulder begins to heal, the community and the nation look ahead, grappling with the implications of this violent act—one that has brought the global conflict over Israel and Gaza painfully close to home.
