Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces multiple charges after injuring eight people during a pro-Israel march in Boulder. The FBI claims he had been plotting the violent act for a year, motivated by anti-Zionist sentiments.
Planned Attack on Pro-Israel Demonstrators in Boulder Exposed by FBI
Planned Attack on Pro-Israel Demonstrators in Boulder Exposed by FBI
A suspect in a Molotov cocktail attack on pro-Israel demonstrators allegedly planned the attack for a year, according to FBI investigations.
**Article Text:**
The FBI has revealed that a man charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, had been planning the assault for an entire year. Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces federal hate crime charges, along with state attempted murder, assault, and explosive device charges, after he targeted a group during a march for Israeli hostages on Sunday.
Investigators report that Soliman, an Egyptian national, arrived at Pearl Street Mall just moments before attacking, vocalizing "Free Palestine" as he launched two incendiary devices into the crowd, which resulted in injuries to eight individuals. Initially thought to be eight victims, four more came forward after the incident, bringing the total hospitalized to twelve, with a range of injuries from minor to serious.
Among those affected was Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, a Holocaust survivor and director of Chabad at the University of Colorado Boulder, highlighting the deeply felt impact of this violent act. The timing coincided with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
In a video court appearance Monday, Soliman clad in a prison jumpsuit responded briefly to procedural questions but did not elaborate during the session. The judge scheduled a formal hearing for charges on Thursday. Investigators believe Soliman acted independently.
According to details from his arrest warrant affidavit, Soliman confessed to police that he had intended the attack to coincide with his daughter's high school graduation and admitted to hating Zionists, stating he would do it again if given the chance. He had taken steps to arm himself, watching videos on crafting Molotov cocktails, reportedly due to his immigration status preventing him from legally obtaining firearms.
Law enforcement found additional unlit Molotov cocktails alongside a backpack sprayer filled with gasoline, indicating premeditated violence. Soliman disguised himself as a gardener to approach the protest safely, which was organized by Run for Their Lives to raise awareness of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Soliman’s vehicle was tracked to his home in Colorado Springs, where he moved three years ago after spending many years in Kuwait. He arrived in the U.S. on a visa that expired earlier this year but subsequently applied for asylum, with details on the application yet unclear.
His actions drew condemnation from local officials and prompted responses from notable figures such as former Trump aide Stephen Miller, who asserted that such acts of terror should result in severe punitive measures for offenders and sympathizers. In the wake of numerous attacks on Jewish communities linked to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, this incident underscores rising antisemitism amidst the regional hostilities.
The ongoing violence in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives since October, continues to stoke tensions within the U.S. Jewish community, highlighting the need for vigilance and responsiveness to hate-driven actions.
The FBI has revealed that a man charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, had been planning the assault for an entire year. Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces federal hate crime charges, along with state attempted murder, assault, and explosive device charges, after he targeted a group during a march for Israeli hostages on Sunday.
Investigators report that Soliman, an Egyptian national, arrived at Pearl Street Mall just moments before attacking, vocalizing "Free Palestine" as he launched two incendiary devices into the crowd, which resulted in injuries to eight individuals. Initially thought to be eight victims, four more came forward after the incident, bringing the total hospitalized to twelve, with a range of injuries from minor to serious.
Among those affected was Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, a Holocaust survivor and director of Chabad at the University of Colorado Boulder, highlighting the deeply felt impact of this violent act. The timing coincided with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
In a video court appearance Monday, Soliman clad in a prison jumpsuit responded briefly to procedural questions but did not elaborate during the session. The judge scheduled a formal hearing for charges on Thursday. Investigators believe Soliman acted independently.
According to details from his arrest warrant affidavit, Soliman confessed to police that he had intended the attack to coincide with his daughter's high school graduation and admitted to hating Zionists, stating he would do it again if given the chance. He had taken steps to arm himself, watching videos on crafting Molotov cocktails, reportedly due to his immigration status preventing him from legally obtaining firearms.
Law enforcement found additional unlit Molotov cocktails alongside a backpack sprayer filled with gasoline, indicating premeditated violence. Soliman disguised himself as a gardener to approach the protest safely, which was organized by Run for Their Lives to raise awareness of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Soliman’s vehicle was tracked to his home in Colorado Springs, where he moved three years ago after spending many years in Kuwait. He arrived in the U.S. on a visa that expired earlier this year but subsequently applied for asylum, with details on the application yet unclear.
His actions drew condemnation from local officials and prompted responses from notable figures such as former Trump aide Stephen Miller, who asserted that such acts of terror should result in severe punitive measures for offenders and sympathizers. In the wake of numerous attacks on Jewish communities linked to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, this incident underscores rising antisemitism amidst the regional hostilities.
The ongoing violence in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives since October, continues to stoke tensions within the U.S. Jewish community, highlighting the need for vigilance and responsiveness to hate-driven actions.
