A chilling scene in Boulder, Colorado, has been classified as a “targeted terror attack” by the FBI. At least six people were hurt outside the Pearl Street Mall at a pro-Israel rally when Molotov cocktails were reportedly hurled towards participants. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was 45 years old and allegedly fired a homemade flamethrower as he yelled slogans such as ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘End Zionists. they are terrorists’.
Who Is Mohamed Sabry Soliman?
Soliman is an Egyptian citizen, as reported by Fox News, who came into the U.S. via Los Angeles International Airport on August 27, 2022, on a non-immigrant visa. He was to remain in the country until February 2, 2023, but never left. He later applied for immigration benefits on September 9, 2022, and was approved for work authorization until March 2024.
Although they were brought into custody ‘without incident’ and admitted for minor injuries, there are no announced charges as of yet. Boulder Police refused to confirm motive, saying, “It would be irresponsible for me to speculate on motive this early on.”
What Went Down at the Scene?
The assault took place at Pearl Street Mall, a crowded pedestrian walkway where volunteers of the group Run For Their Lives had gathered to bring attention to Israeli hostages in Gaza. The demonstration was part of a movement to bring to light the humanitarian crisis of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Video footage that circulated online captures Soliman, wearing jeans and sunglasses, walking towards protesters with his head covered with his headscarf, shouting ‘Free Palestine’ and making a flaming charge.
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Federal and Political Responses
The FBI and the Department of Justice are investigating the case as an act of ideologically motivated terrorism. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino expressed his reaction on social media: “This terrorist act is under investigation as a terrorist act of ideologically motivated violence based on the initial information, evidence, and testimony. We will publicly speak about these events when the facts allow.”
The Justice Department denounced the violence, saying it was a “senseless act of violence, following recent assaults on Jewish Americans.”
Former President Donald Trump’s supporter, Laura Loomer, went onto X (formerly Twitter) and proclaimed, “Mohamad Soliman is not a ‘Colorado Man’. We need MASS DEPORTATIONS NOW!”
Context and Broader Impact
The attack occurs little more than a week after another incident in Washington, in which a man shot two Israeli embassy employees to death while stating, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a response with a statement, claiming he is “closely monitoring” events and stressed that “hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.”
The city of Boulder is still trying to heal after a devastating 2021 supermarket shooting that resulted in four fatalities, only to now find itself at the center of growing tensions and ideological violence in the United States.
