Pro-Israel March in Colorado
What was meant to be a peaceful show of solidarity for Israeli hostages turned into a horrific scene in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday when a man launched a violent, politically charged attack on a crowd gathered near the Pearl Street Mall. Eight people were hospitalized with burns after the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly used incendiary devices and a makeshift flamethrower to target participants in a pro-Israel demonstration.
Federal and local authorities are calling the incident a “targeted act of terrorism.” Soliman is currently in custody and faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, arson, and the potential for federal terrorism and hate crime charges.
A Peaceful March Shattered by Violence
The event, organized by the activist group Run for Their Lives, is part of a global weekly campaign advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. On June 1, a group of nearly 40 participants—many of them elderly—gathered as they had for weeks, holding signs, chanting for peace, and jogging through the pedestrian mall in Boulder.
According to eyewitnesses and police, the tranquility of the march was shattered when Soliman emerged from the crowd shouting “Free Palestine!” He then reportedly threw incendiary devices into the group and sprayed what appeared to be a flammable liquid, igniting it and engulfing several people in flames.
“People were screaming and running. It was chaos,” said Dana Feldstein, a witness who attended the rally. “One man used his coat to smother flames on an older woman. It was terrifying.”
Victims: Survivors of Past and Present Trauma
The eight individuals injured in the attack range in age from 52 to 88. Several sustained second- and third-degree burns and remain in intensive care. Among the most critically injured is an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor whose name has not yet been released.
“This was not only an act of physical violence but a psychological assault on people who have already lived through some of history’s darkest times,” said Rabbi Ilan Rosenbaum of the Boulder Jewish Community Center.
Emergency medical teams responded within minutes, and Soliman was subdued by bystanders and quickly taken into police custody.
Suspect’s Background Raises Immigration Concerns
Homeland Security and the FBI have confirmed that Soliman entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa in August 2022. He filed for asylum the following month, but his visa expired in February 2023. Although he was granted a work permit during the asylum process, that permit expired in March 2025.
As of the time of the attack, Soliman was residing in the U.S. unlawfully. Investigators are now examining his asylum application and whether he had any known affiliations with extremist groups or ideological movements. Authorities have not confirmed a direct connection to any terrorist organizations.
“We are actively investigating the suspect’s history, motivations, and digital footprint,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This attack appears to have been premeditated and ideologically motivated.”
Political and Community Response
Leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the attack. Governor Jared Polis called it “a horrifying and unacceptable act of hate,” pledging full cooperation with federal authorities and support for the victims.
Senator Michael Bennet issued a statement saying, “No one in America should fear for their safety while exercising their constitutional rights to assembly and expression. Antisemitism, violence, and terrorism have no place in Colorado or anywhere.”
The Anti-Defamation League, which has documented a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide since October 2023, labeled the attack part of a “disturbing trend of radicalized anti-Israel hate morphing into violence on U.S. soil.”
Local Jewish organizations and interfaith leaders gathered Sunday evening to hold a vigil and prayer service for the victims, emphasizing resilience and unity.
Legal Proceedings and Future Security
Soliman is being held on a $10 million bond at the Boulder County Jail. Prosecutors are expected to bring a broad range of charges, including federal terrorism and hate crime statutes.
In the aftermath, law enforcement agencies have increased patrols at synagogues, Jewish schools, and similar public gatherings across the state. Organizers of pro-Israel events have been urged to coordinate more closely with police moving forward.
“This was a clear attempt to instill fear,” said Rabbi Stein of Denver. “But we will not be silenced or intimidated. The Jewish people have faced much worse — and we are still here.”
A Stark Reminder of Rising Threats
The Boulder attack is a chilling reminder of the increasing tensions around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict spilling into American public life. With political debates intensifying and polarization on the rise, security experts warn that lone-wolf attacks inspired by foreign conflicts are becoming more likely.
“This attack shows how international grievances are being weaponized on U.S. soil,” said terrorism analyst Jessica Hanley. “We need to take threats against Jewish communities seriously — not just as antisemitism, but as a broader national security issue.”
For now, the Boulder community is mourning, recovering, and refusing to let hate define its streets.
