In brief
The incident, being treated as a terrorist act, highlights growing concerns over antisemitism in the U.S.
June 2, 2025, 9:55 a.m. ET - Authorities have confirmed that the suspect involved in the Boulder, Colorado, attack during a demonstration supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza is an Egyptian national who has overstayed his tourist visa. The attack has resulted in eight individuals being hospitalized with significant injuries, prompting an ongoing investigation into the motivations behind the violent act.Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, entered the U.S. in August 2022, with a visa that expired in February 2023. According to Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security, Soliman had applied for asylum in late 2022 but remained in the country illegally. He was apprehended following an incident that authorities are characterizing as an act of terrorism, during which he used a makeshift flamethrower against peaceful demonstrators on Sunday.Witness accounts described a chaotic scene as Soliman hurled incendiary devices into a gathering dedicated to highlighting the plight of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 2023 attacks on Israel. Eyewitnesses reported seeing him yell "Free Palestine" amid the chaos, as flames engulfed the area outside the Boulder County Courthouse.Among those injured were four men and four women, aged between 52 and 88. The seriousness of the injuries led to two victims being transported to a specialized burn unit in Denver for urgent care. The Boulder community is still grappling with the shock of the attack, which marks an alarming increase in incidents targeting the Jewish community. This attack follows a series of antisemitic incidents, including a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., which claimed the lives of two embassy aides. Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the attack, highlighting the need for peaceful demonstrations devoid of violence, while Attorney General Phil Weiser labeled the act as a possible hate crime.Local community members, including Lisa Effress, expressed their heartbreak over the escalating violence. Effress, who has participated in weekly demonstrations since their inception, fears for her safety and the future of such gatherings. In light of the recent violence, she indicated that future walks have been postponed indefinitely, marking a grim change in the spirit of their peaceful protests.
