BOULDER, COLORADO – A peaceful demonstration in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza erupted into chaos and terror on Sunday afternoon when a man wielding makeshift incendiary devices launched a fiery assault on participants at the Pearl Street Mall. The attack, which the FBI has swiftly labeled a “targeted act of violence” and is investigating as terrorism, injured at least 12 people, some severely burned, and has sent shockwaves through the community.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national residing in Colorado Springs, was apprehended at the scene. Witnesses reported hearing Soliman shout “Free Palestine” and “End Zionists” as he allegedly hurled Molotov cocktails and used what authorities described as a “makeshift flamethrower” into the crowd.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. local time, as members of “Run for Their Lives,” a group that organizes weekly walks to raise awareness for Israeli hostages, were concluding their demonstration near the historic Boulder County Courthouse. Participants described a sudden eruption of fire and panic.
“I heard the glass breaking, and the heat on the back of my legs was surprising,” recounted Lisa Trunquist, a participant, to CBS News Colorado. She described seeing a “big explosion” and a woman on the ground with her “legs burning.” Another witness, Alex Osante, captured video showing the shirtless suspect holding containers and shouting, as a police officer with his gun drawn advanced. Osante also noted that Soliman appeared to accidentally set himself on fire during the attack.
Emergency services quickly responded to the scene, transporting victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88, to area hospitals. Two of the most seriously injured were airlifted to the burn unit at UCHealth, while others received treatment at Boulder Community Health. Among the injured is an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, according to Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, the Chabad director at the University of Colorado Boulder, who called her a “very loving person.”
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed that officers found multiple victims with burn injuries upon arrival. Investigations by the FBI and local law enforcement revealed that Soliman had at least 16 unlit Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed sprayer, potentially containing a flammable substance, within arm’s reach at the time of his arrest.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Soliman confessed to the attack, stating he had been planning it for a year and had researched how to make Molotov cocktails on YouTube. He allegedly told investigators he “wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,” and that he would “do it again.” He claimed he resorted to Molotov cocktails after being unable to purchase a firearm due to his immigration status.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman has been charged with a federal hate crime for causing bodily injury due to actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin. State charges include 16 counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of using an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device. He made his initial court appearance on Monday.
The Department of Justice, in a statement, decried the incident as a “needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans.” This attack comes less than two weeks after two Israeli embassy staffers were fatally shot in Washington D.C. by a man who reportedly yelled “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
As the Boulder community grapples with the aftermath of this shocking act, the incident serves as a stark reminder of escalating tensions and the increasing polarization surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leading to acts of violence on American soil. Investigations are ongoing, but authorities are clear: this was a targeted act of terror, fueled by hate.