In Boulder, Colorado, a man identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman has been charged with over 100 counts, including attempted murder and assault. Soliman is accused of attacking demonstrators who were rallying for the release of Israeli hostages, committing the act with firebombs. He is also facing a federal hate crime charge and is currently held on a $10 million cash bond. Soliman, an Egyptian national, was reportedly residing in the U.S. without legal documentation.
Authorities allege that Soliman, while shouting “Free Palestine,” hurled two out of the 18 Molotov cocktails in his possession at the protestors. Despite expressing no remorse, his attack follows another unrelated but similarly motivated incident where a man shot two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington earlier this year while also chanting “Free Palestine.”
The backdrop of this incident is an ongoing rise in antisemitic activities in the United States, exacerbated by the conflict between Israel and Hamas that escalated in October 2023. During this conflict, Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken.
In the Colorado court, Soliman faces 118 charges, and his legal counsel, Kathryn Herold, has opted out of a formal reading. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15 to assess whether the state holds sufficient evidence to advance the case. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated that the attempted murder charges alone could potentially lead to a 672-year sentence if Soliman is convicted. Proceedings at Denver federal court will continue on June 18 to decide if the case will proceed to trial.
Soliman’s history in the U.S. traces back to his entrance in August 2022 on a tourist visa, which expired in February 2023. He attempted to apply for asylum and temporarily received work authorization, though both are no longer valid. Authorities have taken his family, comprising his wife and children, into custody in Texas, although they currently face no charges related to the attack. According to legal documents, Soliman claims to have acted without their knowledge, a claim now under investigation.
In response to the attack, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced measures to strengthen the enforcement against visa overstays.
During interrogations, Soliman stated his motivations stemmed from a desire to “kill all Zionist people,” a reference to supporters of the Jewish state in Israel. His assault targeted a group on Pearl Street’s pedestrian mall in Boulder, perceiving them as a “Zionist group,” earning him a federal hate crime charge, with a potential life sentence attached to attempted murder.
The demonstrators affected by the attack were part of “Run for Their Lives,” an international grassroots movement organized following the October violence in Israel by Hamas. This group aims to keep public focus on the 58 individuals believed to remain captive in Gaza. During the attack, 15 individuals and a dog became victims. Though injuries varied, all are recognized within the legal framework due to their proximity and potential harm. Victims include eight women and seven men, aged 25 to 88, with their injuries ranging from serious to minor severity. The dog was also injured in the incident.