A peaceful demonstration supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza erupted into chaos when a man launched a fiery attack on participants at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, injuring eight people aged between 52 and 88, authorities reported.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, unleashed a barrage of Molotov cocktails and used a makeshift flamethrower during the attack, reportedly shouting “Free Palestine” as he targeted the crowd. The FBI has classified the incident as a suspected terrorist act.
The attack took place during a weekly event organized by Run for Their Lives, a pro-Israeli group holding walks to raise awareness for Israelis held captive in Gaza.
The gathering, typically peaceful, was shattered by the sudden violence, leaving many injured, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor.
Video footage from the scene shows the shirtless suspect aggressively advancing on the crowd, holding bottles filled with flammable liquid. Panic ensued as smoke billowed, and flames spread across the outdoor pedestrian mall. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of people running for safety while others tended to the injured.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed that calls reporting a man with a weapon and people on fire flooded emergency lines shortly after 1:26 p.m. local time.
Responding officers found multiple victims suffering burns and other injuries before apprehending the suspect, who was later hospitalized with injuries sustained during his arrest.
The FBI’s Denver office revealed that Soliman had been living in Colorado Springs after his visa expired in February 2023. Officials noted that he was granted a work permit under the previous U.S. administration, though the circumstances remain under investigation.
This incident marks the second high-profile act of violence in the U.S. in recent weeks linked to the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict. On May 22, a man shouting “Free Palestine” fatally shot two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., underscoring a disturbing trend of ideologically motivated violence spilling onto American soil.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser condemned the attack, labeling it a hate crime targeting a vulnerable community. “Violence is never the answer to political differences,” he said. “Hate has no place in Colorado.”
Israeli officials also reacted strongly. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced the attack as “pure antisemitism,” while Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called for “concrete action” to counter rising threats against Jewish communities globally.
As the investigation continues, authorities and community leaders alike urge calm and vigilance, emphasizing that while political views may differ, violence must never be tolerated.
