The quiet peace of Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall was shattered when an Egyptian national, armed with a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, allegedly attacked elderly supporters of Israeli hostages.
At a Glance
- An Egyptian national attacked using a makeshift flamethrower in Boulder, injuring eight people aged 52 to 88.
- The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was identified as having an expired visa.
- The attack at Pearl Street pedestrian mall is being investigated as ideologically motivated violence by the FBI.
- Soliman was caught with Molotov cocktails and accidentally set himself on fire.
- Israeli leaders condemned the attack as an act of antisemitism.
Shocking Attack on Peaceful Group
During the fraught atmosphere of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, the peaceful gathering on Pearl Street came under sudden threat. Allegedly, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, launched an attack with a makeshift flamethrower. Shouts of “Free Palestine” reportedly echoed during the attack, which resulted in burns and other injuries to eight individuals, some as old as 88. Soliman, who arrived in the U.S. in 2022, had an expired visa, and his actions have now drawn the scrutiny of federal authorities.
The FBI and DHS have classified this alarming event as a terrorist act. Soliman’s path from California to Colorado Springs has become crucial to the investigation, aimed at uncovering any underlying extremist motives or connections to larger networks. A key aspect under scrutiny is his unauthorized presence in the country, highlighting broader issues of border control and national security.
FBI: Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, an Egyptian national, was arrested for a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. He allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at a pro-Israel rally, injuring six, while shouting "Free Palestine." He overstayed a U.S. visa from 2022. FBI is investigating. https://t.co/KxwVBlCHn8 pic.twitter.com/rVuihEkWOM
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) June 2, 2025
Response and Ramifications
As the investigation unravels, prominent Israeli figures like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen have condemned the attack. Netanyahu stated, “This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews.” Such incidents underline the persistent shadow of antisemitism and the necessity for vigilance.
This attack comes amidst heightened tensions due to ongoing Israel-Hamas conflicts, exposing, once again, the dangerous intersection of international hostilities on domestic soil. The FBI’s Denver office reported a raid on Soliman’s residence in El Paso County, CO, in a bid to gather more evidence.
https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1929357301565337795
National Security Concerns
The collaborative effort between the FBI and DHS underscores the severity of this incident. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem underscored this, commenting, “The Department of Homeland Security is working alongside the FBI to investigate the ‘terrorist attack.'” Such attacks raise critical questions about national preparedness in the face of ideologically-driven violence.
The ramifications of this event are profound, prompting other states, including New York, to bolster security around religious sites. With Soliman’s arrest and recovery at a hospital, attention now turns to understanding the root causes and preventing future attacks. The community rallies to assist the victims, among them an esteemed Holocaust survivor, amplifying the message of resilience in the face of adversity.
— We Believe in Israel (@WeBelieveIsrael) June 2, 2025
Sources:
FBI: Eight injured in Colorado by man with flamethrower who yelled “Free Palestine” – WAKA 8
Eight hurt in Colorado fire attack after suspect shouts ‘free Palestine’
FBI raids home of Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman