Colorado Man Planned Year-Long Attack on Pro-Israel March

Mohammed Sabry Soliman, accused of assaulting pro-Israel demonstrators using incendiary devices in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly spent a year planning the attack. He faces multiple charges, including federal hate crimes and attempted murder, and expressed intent to carry out similar acts against "Zionists."

A man accused of launching an attack against pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, was reportedly planning the assault for over a year. Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces serious charges, including federal hate crime violations, attempted murder, and the use of an explosive device. The incident occurred during a gathering organized by Run for Their Lives, a group raising awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza, when Soliman allegedly threw Molotov cocktails into the crowd, injuring eight individuals.

On Monday, Soliman made a brief court appearance where he was seen via video feed. He is an Egyptian national who apparently shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack at the Pearl Street Mall. Officials reported finding at least sixteen unlit Molotov cocktails in the vicinity following the incident, and eight victims of the attack suffered from varying degrees of burns, necessitating medical attention for some.

Eyewitnesses captured the chaos on video as the situation quickly escalated. Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, the oldest victim, is a Holocaust survivor and the Chabad director at the University of Colorado Boulder. The attack took place at an especially sensitive time, coinciding with the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman had meticulously planned the assault for twelve months. He originally intended to carry out the attack post his daughter’s high school graduation. Investigators revealed that Soliman expressed a desire to "kill all Zionists." His planning included researching how to make Molotov cocktails online, and he had disguised himself as a gardener to facilitate his approach to the demonstration.

Once arrested, he admitted to police that he had targeted the demonstrators based on his extremist views against Zionism, citing that they needed to "stop taking over our land," a veiled reference to Palestinian territories. Notably, police discovered a backpack weed sprayer filled with gasoline at the scene.

Mr. Soliman's immigration status is complex; he moved to Colorado Springs three years ago and was reported to be working as an Uber driver. Having arrived in California on a non-immigrant visa in 2022, it reportedly expired in February 2023, after which he applied for asylum. Previous reports state that there had been no indicators of his potential for violence.

The attack is not an isolated incident; it reflects a troubling pattern of antisemitic violence across the United States, heightened by the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Recent months have seen several attacks against the American Jewish community, even as the Biden administration is urged to reconsider the immigration status of individuals with troubling backgrounds.

With the case unfolding, local and national leaders are uniting in condemnation of the actions taken by Soliman, emphasizing the need for accountability and the persistent vigilance against hate-based violence.