(LibertySociety.com) – An Egyptian national with an expired visa attacked elderly supporters of Israeli hostages with a makeshift flamethrower in Boulder, Colorado, injuring eight people in what the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism.
At a Glance
- Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national living illegally in the U.S., attacked a group raising awareness for Israeli hostages using a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails
- Eight people aged 52 to 88, including a Holocaust survivor, were injured during the attack at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot
- The suspect shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack and was arrested after accidentally setting himself on fire
- FBI and DHS are investigating the incident as an act of terrorism with ideological motivation
- The attack occurs amid rising antisemitic violence in the U.S. related to the Israel-Hamas conflict
FBI Labels Boulder Attack as Terrorism
The FBI has launched a terrorism investigation after Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, attacked a group of elderly people supporting Israeli hostages at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. The incident occurred during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot when Soliman allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to assault the crowd. FBI officials confirmed that Soliman had entered the United States in 2022 on a non-immigrant visa that expired in 2023, making his continued presence in the country illegal.
Mark Michalek of the FBI’s Denver field office stated that the evidence, witness accounts, and circumstances of the attack point clearly to ideologically motivated violence. Eight victims ranging in age from 52 to 88 years old suffered injuries, including burns. Among the injured was an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor who was described by a local rabbi as a “very loving person.” Video footage captured Soliman throwing incendiary devices at the crowd while shouting “Free Palestine” before accidentally setting himself on fire.
The FBI has confirmed that the Boulder terror suspect is 42 year old Mohamed Sabry Soliman
He is reportedly an Egyptian national who entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa during the Biden administration and never returned home. He used a flamethrower… https://t.co/MlpImuRfnq
— Dave Lucas (@davelucas) June 2, 2025
Federal Response and Investigation
Federal agents conducted a raid on Soliman’s home in El Paso County, Colorado, as part of the ongoing investigation. “The FBI is at a location in El Paso County, CO, conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity related to the attack on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder,” the FBI’s Denver office posted on X late Sunday night. Reports indicate that Soliman had been living in Colorado Springs since entering the country and may have received a work permit after his visa expired, raising questions about immigration enforcement procedures.
“This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it.” – Dan Bongino.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that DHS is collaborating with the FBI on the investigation. Witnesses reported that Soliman appeared to have planned the attack deliberately, waiting for the group at a scheduled stop on their awareness walk. Authorities found him carrying bottles of clear liquid used as incendiary devices along with the improvised flamethrower. After being injured by his own fire, Soliman was arrested without resistance and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Rising Concerns About Antisemitic Violence
The Boulder attack marks the second recent U.S. incident linked to the Gaza conflict, following a fatal shooting in Washington DC. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser suggested the attack constituted a hate crime, emphasizing that “People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences.” In response to the attack, the New York Police Department increased security presence at religious sites for the Shavuot holiday, reflecting growing concerns about antisemitic violence nationwide.
“This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews.” – Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims. Israel’s foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations similarly denounced the incident, characterizing it as antisemitism and calling for decisive action. FBI officials noted that attacks motivated by antisemitism have become increasingly common across the country since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Boulder attack has heightened concerns about the potential for further violence against Jewish communities and supporters of Israel in the United States.
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