In brief
Residents in Boulder, Colorado, are reeling after a violent attack that targeted supporters of Israeli hostages in Gaza, leaving eight people injured. The assailant, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian citizen, is reportedly in the U.S. illegally after overstaying his tourist visa that expired in 2023.
Investigators working under the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Soliman entered the U.S. in 2022 and applied for asylum but remained after his visa expired. The attack occurred during a peaceful demonstration when Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower on the crowd. Witnesses recounted chaos as people attempted to extinguish flames and assist the injured. Among the hospitalized victims were four men and four women aged between 52 and 88, with some in critical condition.The Boulder community had been gathering weekly since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, often wearing red to symbolize support for the hostages. Witnesses described their horror upon witnessing the attack, with one participant recounting her disbelief and the panic that ensued.This incident comes on the heels of a series of antisemitic acts against the Jewish community, leading Colorado Governor Jared Polis to denounce the violence and call it a terrorist act. With tensions mounting, local Jewish groups are expressing heightened concerns for their safety amidst a spate of target hate crimes. The Boulder weekly walks have now been suspended indefinitely as the community grapples with the implications of this violent outbreak.
