A man charged with a violent attack on pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, reportedly planned his assault for a year, according to the FBI. Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, is facing federal hate crime charges in addition to attempted murder, assault, and use of an explosive device at an event supporting Israeli hostages on Sunday.
According to investigators, the Egyptian national threw two Molotov cocktails into a gathering of protesters at an outdoor mall while shouting "Free Palestine," injuring at least eight participants. Following the incident, authorities found an additional 16 unlit Molotov cocktails at the scene.
This attack, part of a disturbing trend of violence against the Jewish community in the U.S., occurred during a weekly protest organized by Run for Their Lives to raise awareness about Israeli hostages in Gaza. Among the injured was Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, a Holocaust survivor and Chabad director at the University of Colorado Boulder.
During a brief court appearance via video feed, Soliman, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, answered procedural questions but did not speak further. A court date has been set for the formal filing of charges on Thursday, with Soliman believed to have acted alone.
In a police interview reported in court documents, Soliman claimed he intended to execute the attack after his daughter's high school graduation. He expressed hatred towards Zionists and detailed his preparations, including learning to make incendiary devices and waiting for the protest to begin after traveling from Colorado Springs.
The FBI's affidavit includes troubling claims about Soliman's motivations and past, revealing that he attempted to learn to shoot a gun to obtain a concealed-carry permit, but resorted to using Molotov cocktails due to his immigration status. Authorities reported that he left behind an iPhone containing messages for his family, which his wife later delivered to law enforcement.
Despite having moved to the U.S. from Kuwait and seeking asylum, no prior threats had been reported. In the aftermath of the attack, officials emphasized their commitment to holding Soliman accountable, amid a growing concern for the safety of Jewish communities across the nation, which have recently faced multiple incidents of violence.
