A peaceful vigil erupted into chaos Sunday afternoon when a man armed with a homemade flamethrower allegedly set fire to demonstrators rallying for Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
The assailant reportedly shouted “Free Palestine!” as he launched the fiery assault in downtown Boulder, injuring eight people — most of them elderly. Authorities are calling it a suspected terrorist attack and potential hate crime.
Now, the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman of El Paso County, could face multiple charges — including two counts of first-degree murder — even though no deaths have been reported yet.
What Happened on Pearl Street
The attack took place just before 1:30 p.m. in front of the historic Boulder County Courthouse during a demonstration held by Run for Their Lives – Boulder, a group advocating for the release of hostages kidnapped during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Emergency dispatchers were flooded with calls describing a horrifying scene: a man wielding a flamethrower, lighting people on fire. When police arrived, they found elderly victims screaming, their clothing burned away, and flames still smoldering. Some witnesses poured water on the injured as others fled in terror.
“I saw two women rolling on the ground in their underwear, trying to put out the fire,” said witness Brooke Coffman, who was on her lunch break nearby. “Their legs were covered in burns. One woman’s hair was completely gone.”
Social media footage showed a shirtless man pacing and shouting while waving bottles filled with what police now believe were incendiary chemicals.
A Chilling Profile Emerges
Soliman, an Egyptian national, was arrested at the scene and hospitalized for minor injuries. He was booked into jail shortly before midnight Sunday and is being held on a $10 million bond. According to court records, he faces possible charges including:
- Two counts of first-degree murder (one for “extreme indifference” and one for “deliberation with intent”)
- One count of attempted murder
- Assault on an at-risk adult over 70
- Use of explosives or incendiary devices
Federal agents are now investigating the case as a domestic terrorism incident.
National Outrage and Political Fallout
The attack immediately reignited political tensions.
Former Trump aide Stephen Miller blamed the Biden administration for allowing Soliman to remain in the U.S., claiming he overstayed a tourist visa and was later granted a work permit under Biden’s immigration policy.
“This was a terrorist attack carried out by someone who never should have been here,” Miller wrote on X. “Suicidal migration must be fully reversed.”
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau was treating it as a “targeted terror attack.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, the son of Holocaust survivors, did not mince words. “Given who was targeted, we’re looking at this as a hate crime,” he said, pledging full support to local prosecutors.
Who Are the Victims?
The eight victims — four men and four women — are between the ages of 52 and 88. Several remain hospitalized with serious burns. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said it was still too early to officially determine if the group was intentionally targeted, but investigators are exploring the possibility.
“The facts point to a disturbing motive,” said Redfearn. “We’re going to let the evidence guide us.”
A Community in Shock
Run for Their Lives is a global initiative launched after the October 7 Hamas attack, where more than 250 people were abducted. As of now, 23 hostages are still believed to be alive.
In a media kit, the Boulder chapter described itself as a “non-political, peaceful initiative inclusive of all religions.”
A joint statement from Boulder Jewish groups said the community is “shaken but united.”
“Our hearts are with the victims. We must come together against hate in all forms,” the statement read.
What’s Next
Soliman is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon. Authorities are examining his social media, background, and any potential connections to extremist ideology. As of now, investigators say he appeared to act alone and had no prior criminal record.
The attack marks one of the most severe acts of anti-Jewish violence in Colorado in recent memory — and raises new fears about escalating rhetoric translating into real-world violence.
“This was not just an attack on a group of people,” said AG Weiser. “It was an attack on the very idea of peaceful protest in a free society.”
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The good news is that there are “ONLY” another million or so left , better armed, better trained and better organized left for us to deal with.
Same story but different writer and a different take.People who come here from other countries who bring their hatred for America should be sent back to their countries pronto. They want freedoms that we offer just to show us they don\’t like America, then stay in their own country. Period.
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