Boul A peaceful Jewish community gathering turned into a nightmare on Sunday, June 1, when a man attacked participants using a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails. The incident, which occurred at the Pearl Street Mall, left at least eight individuals injured, with victims ranging in age from 52 to 88. Among them was a Holocaust survivor who suffered severe burns. The event was part of a weekly walk in support of hostages in Gaza and was not politically charged, organizers said.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman,boul was arrested on the scene and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of burns he sustained during the attack. Authorities later revealed that Soliman was in the United States illegally, further fueling national debate over immigration and domestic extremism.
Suspect’s Immigration Status and Prior History
According to a Department of Homeland Security official, Soliman boul entered the U.S. in August 2022 as a non-immigrant visitor and was granted a two-year work authorization in March 2023. However, that visa expired earlier this year, and Soliman had overstayed his legal status. It was also reported that Soliman had previously applied for asylum and was denied a visa to enter the country as far back as 2005.
The FBI confirmed that Soliman shouted “Free Palestine!” during the attack, prompting federal prosecutors to charge him with a hate crime involving race, religion, or national origin. Authorities also discovered 16 additional Molotov cocktails near the scene and said Soliman had fashioned a garden sprayer filled with gasoline into a makeshift flamethrower.
Also Read: ATO Urges Caution as Millions Eye $1,519 Tax Refund Amid Rising Pressures
Law Enforcement Response and Ongoing Investigation
Boulder police and federal authorities acted quickly to detain Soliman, who was wearing a utility vest and carrying incendiary devices at the time of the attack. Witnesses initially thought he was a gardener before the violence erupted. Law enforcement sources stated that he had stopped at gas stations prior to the attack to fill bottles and the sprayer with gasoline.
Dispatch audio revealed the scale of the potential devastation, with one officer reporting a “large box of Molotov cocktails in front of the courthouse.” Soliman’s mugshot has since been released, and he is expected to appear in court Monday afternoon to face multiple felony charges, including attempted murder and hate crimes.
BREAKING: Several injured in what officials are describing as a “targeted terror attack” during Jewish community event in Boulder, Colorado pic.twitter.com/qT7J7act0W
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 1, 2025
Jewish Community Leaders Call for Action
Local and national Jewish leaders expressed sorrow and outrage following the attack. Rabbi Fred Greene of Congregation Har HaShem described his community as “wounded” and called for solidarity and compassion. “We have to figure out who’s feeling vulnerable and who’s feeling angry and respond to them,” he said.
Greene added that the incident occurred during Shavuot, a significant Jewish holiday, compounding the emotional toll. “The rhetoric we hear, month after month, about globalized violence and intifada is deeply troubling. Thinking that attacking America’s Jewish community will somehow advance justice is both harmful and absurd,” he said.
Victims Speak Out Through Community Leaders
Elyana Funk, Executive Director of the University of Colorado Boulder Hillel, shared emotional conversations with victims following the attack. “She really felt like this happened not just to her, but to boul the whole community,” said Funk, describing a burn victim who continues to recover in hospital. Boul One of the injured was a Holocaust survivor in her 80s, who had been participating in the peaceful walk alongside her daughter.
“These are not political rallies. These are quiet, respectful events meant to raise awareness for hostages still being held in Gaza,” Funk emphasized. “It’s terrifying to think that even these moments of reflection can become targets for violence.”
