A peaceful Sunday afternoon in Boulder turned into a scene of chaos and flames when a man set multiple people on fire during a solidarity walk for Israeli hostages. Authorities say Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, was taken into custody at the scene.
Witnesses reported the attacker shouted “Free Palestine” and other anti-Israel slogans as he allegedly hurled incendiary devices at demonstrators, some of them elderly, gathered near the county courthouse. The victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were participating in a walk organized by the grassroots group Run for Their Lives.
Soliman has been booked into Boulder County Jail on multiple felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and the use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony. Authorities have not yet confirmed if any of the victims have died. Bond has been set at $10 million.
A Peaceful Protest Turns to Panic
The assault erupted at 1:26 p.m. on Pearl Street, just steps from where members of Run for Their Lives had been marching in quiet unity. The organization, described by the Anti-Defamation League as apolitical and globally active, has held weekly events since October 15, 2023, to raise awareness for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
The attacker’s voice rang out with chilling fury. “How many children you killed?” he shouted, followed by “We have to end Zionists, they are killers,” according to the ADL Center on Extremism, which analyzed video footage from the scene.
Hate-Fueled Violence: Officials React
Authorities believe hate was at the heart of the attack. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said, From what we know, this appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted. People may disagree over global events, but violence is never the answer.
The FBI has launched a terror investigation. Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed the incident is being treated as “ideologically motivated violence” based on witness accounts and preliminary evidence.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the National Counterterrorism Center is working alongside the FBI and local law enforcement. Later Sunday, FBI agents were seen conducting a court-authorized raid in El Paso County, Colorado.
The Suspect: A Visa Overstay from Egypt
According to sources within DHS and ICE, Soliman entered the U.S. through Los Angeles International Airport on August 27, 2022, using a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa. He was legally permitted to stay until February 26, 2023, but failed to leave.
Instead, officials say, he filed a claim, possibly for asylum on September 29, 2022, and was granted work authorization by USCIS under the Biden administration on March 29, 2023. That authorization expired this past March.
Downtown Boulder Locked Down
Police evacuated three blocks surrounding the courthouse immediately after the incident, later expanding the perimeter as investigators probed a “vehicle of interest.” Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn confirmed the area remained unsafe into the evening.
“Heinous Act of Terror”: Local and Global Leaders Speak Out
Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the attack in stark terms: “I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror.”
“Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation.”
Polis and Weiser, notably the first two Jewish men elected to statewide office in Colorado, have been vocal in their support for the Jewish community throughout their tenure.
Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Terror has no place in our great country.”
Echoes of Violence Across the U.S.
The Boulder attack comes on the heels of another violent act: just two weeks ago, two staffers at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were shot. Leaders warn of a growing wave of anti-Jewish violence.
Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, called out the pattern. “Both attacks are the direct result of months of anti-Israel propaganda, moral equivocation, and silence in the face of raging antisemitism,” he said. “Hate flourishes, and physical attacks, even murder of Jews is inevitable.”
“We Must Do More—Now”
Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado added his voice to the rising chorus: “The scourge of anti-Semitism has metastasized across our country. We must do more now to stop this violence.”
The attack coincided with Shavuot, one of Judaism’s major holidays, prompting the NYPD to deploy additional patrols at synagogues and Jewish community centers across New York City.
A Global Mission, a Local Tragedy
Run for Their Lives, founded by Israeli expats in California’s Bay Area, continues to host weekly walks in cities around the world. Their mission is simple: raise awareness, peacefully for the hostages still trapped in Gaza.
But now, a movement founded on quiet protest and humanitarian concern is grappling with its darkest day.
