The city of Boulder, Colorado, witnessed a terrifying act of violence during a pro-Israel gathering on a Sunday that left six people injured and sent shockwaves through the community. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, became the center of attention after using a makeshift flamethrower — reportedly Molotov cocktails — to attack attendees at a weekly event raising awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
This violent episode, now under investigation by the FBI as a “targeted act of terrorism,” raises pressing questions about Soliman’s background, motives, and the broader implications of such hate-driven attacks amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The Attack: What Happened in Boulder?
The incident occurred during a “Run For Their Lives” event, a regular gathering intended to support Israeli hostages in Gaza and express solidarity with the pro-Israel cause. Witnesses recounted a harrowing scene as Soliman threw firebombs, igniting chaos and panic among the crowd. Eyewitness Brooke Coffman described the frantic efforts to help the victims, saying, “Everybody is yelling, ‘get water, get water.’ I saw four women with burns—one wrapped in a flag.”
The victims, aged between 67 and 88, suffered varying degrees of burns, and first responders worked swiftly to assist them. Videos from the scene captured a shirtless man, believed to be Soliman, wielding spray bottles with visible flames, setting fire to the ground and the people around him.
The severity of the attack prompted a large-scale response from law enforcement. The FBI and local Boulder police evacuated the area, deployed K-9 units, and advised the public to avoid downtown Boulder near 13th and Pearl Streets. The FBI Denver Field Office Special Agent Mark Michalek confirmed the arrest of Soliman and emphasized that the attack was a “targeted act of violence” under investigation as terrorism.
JUST IN: The man who is accused of the Boulder terror attack was in the U.S. illegally and entered into the country under the Biden admin on 8/27/22 through LAX, according to @BillMelugin_.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 2, 2025
Six people are in the hospital after Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly lit them on fire.… pic.twitter.com/42sBuyWzlu
While authorities have not yet filed formal charges, they indicated a commitment to holding Soliman fully accountable. The political atmosphere surrounding the attack was tense, with Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemning “hate-filled acts of any kind” and Attorney General Phil Weiser labeling the incident a likely hate crime.
This attack occurred amidst escalating violence and political unrest linked to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, including a recent fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington, DC, highlighting the dangerous spillover of global tensions into local communities.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman: Background and Immigration Status
Mohamed Sabry Soliman’s personal history adds layers of complexity to the incident. He is reportedly an Egyptian national who entered the United States on August 27, 2022, through Los Angeles International Airport using a non-immigrant visa.
However, he has since overstayed that visa, making his presence in the country unauthorized according to federal immigration officials. The White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, highlighted this fact on social media, emphasizing Soliman’s status as a foreign national who had “illegally overstayed” his visa.
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Questions remain about the circumstances of Soliman’s entry into the United States. CNN reported that he was denied a visa in 2005, but how he subsequently managed to enter the country is unclear. Department of Homeland Security sources mentioned by journalist Bill Melugin suggest that Soliman arrived during the Biden administration, but exact details are sparse.
Meanwhile, some investigative journalism hints at Soliman’s professional background in finance and marketing. Another journalist, Laura Loomer, claimed Soliman has a daughter currently studying in Colorado, pointing to personal ties within the U.S. that may have influenced his life and activities here.
This immigration angle complicates the narrative, bringing to the forefront issues of border security, visa enforcement, and the monitoring of individuals who may pose a security risk. It also raises broader questions about the integration and tracking of foreign nationals, particularly those who may harbor extremist views or become radicalized after arrival.
Political and Social Implications
Soliman reportedly shouted phrases such as “free Palestine,” “end Zionists,” and “they are killers” during the attack, indicating a clear political motivation linked to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The pro-Israel gathering he attacked was designed to raise awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.
This clash of ideologies—between pro-Israel advocates and supporters of the Palestinian cause—has been intensifying globally, leading to protests, violence, and heightened security concerns in many countries.
The attack in Boulder is a stark example of how international conflicts can ignite violence far from the actual battlegrounds. Local communities in the U.S. and elsewhere often become proxies for these larger geopolitical struggles, with events like rallies and demonstrations turning into flashpoints for violence. The FBI’s classification of this attack as a terrorism act underscores the danger of such politically motivated violence spilling over into domestic terror incidents.
Authorities’ responses highlight the seriousness with which they are treating the case. Governor Jared Polis’s condemnation of “hate-filled acts” and Attorney General Phil Weiser’s labeling of the incident as a hate crime indicate recognition of the underlying hatred and political extremism driving the violence. The deployment of K-9 units and the evacuation of the area following the attack underscore the immediate concern for public safety and the potential for further violence.
The incident also reverberates amid a series of other violent episodes linked to Israel-Gaza tensions, including the recent shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington, DC. These events collectively illustrate how conflicts abroad can exacerbate divisions and incite violence within U.S. communities, forcing law enforcement and policymakers to grapple with the challenge of preventing politically motivated terrorism domestically.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman’s attack at the pro-Israel gathering in Boulder is a grim reminder of how international political conflicts can fuel violence in unexpected places, with devastating consequences for innocent civilians. His background as an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa adds a complex immigration dimension to the case, while his political motives link the incident directly to the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The FBI’s ongoing investigation and law enforcement’s response demonstrate the seriousness with which such targeted acts of terrorism are treated in the United States.
As the legal process unfolds and more details emerge about Soliman’s motives, background, and possible networks, this case serves as a crucial example of the intersections between immigration, domestic security, and global political tensions. It also highlights the urgent need for communities, authorities, and policymakers to work together to combat hate-driven violence and ensure public safety in an increasingly polarized world.