Mohammed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, has been charged with federal hate crimes and state offenses, including attempted murder and assault, following an attack against pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. According to the FBI, he meticulously planned the assault for over a year, targeting a group of peaceful protesters who were gathering to raise awareness about Israeli hostages.
The incident, which occurred on a Sunday at the Pearl Street Mall, involved Soliman throwing Molotov cocktails while shouting "Free Palestine," resulting in injuries to eight attendees. Emergency responders treated twelve individuals, with medical evaluations revealing injuries ranging from minor to severe. Among the victims was a Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, the director of Chabad at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Court documents indicate that Soliman had a cache of unlit Molotov cocktails nearby and arrived just minutes before the demonstration began, disguised in a gardener's outfit complete with an orange vest. Investigators uncovered that he researched homemade bomb-making techniques online and had a strong motive rooted in anti-Zionist sentiments, declaring his desire to "kill all Zionists."
In his court appearance via video link, Soliman answered procedural questions but offered little additional commentary. He disclosed to police that the attack was intended to coincide with his daughter's high school graduation and that he had been training for violence, hoping to acquire a firearm despite his immigration status, which legally barred him from doing so.
Soliman's recent residency includes a stint in Colorado Springs, where he worked as an Uber driver after entering the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa that expired this past February. His asylum bid, initiated shortly after his arrival in California in 2022, remains unresolved. Following the attack, significant commentary arose from officials, including former President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing the necessity of tightening immigration enforcement and addressing acts of violence against the Jewish community.
This incident is emblematic of a broader wave of antisemitism in America, which has seen an alarming rise amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, triggering other violent incidents against members of the Jewish faith across the nation.
