Boulder Attack Suspect Planned Assault for a Year, Learned Bomb-Making Online
Boulder, Colorado — A 45-year-old Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, faces a federal hate crime charge and multiple state charges, including attempted first-degree murder, following a violent attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025. According to federal and state court documents, Soliman meticulously planned the assault for over a year, targeting a group he described as “Zionist” during a peaceful demonstration advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Authorities report that Soliman, who had been living in Colorado Springs, approximately 100 miles south of Boulder, used a makeshift flamethrower and threw Molotov cocktails at the crowd, injuring 12 people, some with burns. The attack took place at the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian area near the University of Colorado. Soliman allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the assault, which he executed after disguising himself as a gardener to approach the group unnoticed.
According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman confessed to learning how to construct Molotov cocktails through YouTube tutorials and purchased fuel on his way to the attack. Investigators found 14 unused gasoline-filled Molotov cocktails near the scene, along with a gasoline canister in his parked car and a weed sprayer filled with gasoline. Court documents also revealed papers in Soliman’s vehicle referencing “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.”
Soliman told investigators he had delayed the attack until after his daughter’s high school graduation and expressed no remorse, stating he would carry out the assault again if given the chance. He also admitted to taking firearms training to obtain a concealed-carry permit but resorted to incendiary devices due to his noncitizen status, which prevented him from purchasing firearms.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Soliman entered the United States in August 2022 on a tourist visa, which expired in February 2023. He filed for asylum in September 2022, and his claim was still pending at the time of the attack. Soliman, who lived with his wife and five children in Colorado Springs, had not previously drawn the attention of local law enforcement, according to Boulder police chief Stephen Redfearn. Authorities believe he acted alone.
During a press conference, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, J. Bishop Grewell, emphasized the severity of the attack, noting that Soliman targeted a group that included elderly individuals in their late 80s. Soliman appeared in court on June 2, 2025, via video from Boulder County Jail, where he acknowledged receiving a protection order but did not enter a plea. He remains in custody on a $10 million bond, facing a potential 624-year prison sentence if convicted on all 34 charges, as stated by Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.
The FBI and local authorities continue to investigate the incident, with no evidence suggesting Soliman was affiliated with any organized group. The attack has drawn significant attention, with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino initially describing it as a potential act of terror on social media, though federal prosecutors have so far filed only a hate crime charge.