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A 45-year-old man is facing potential first-degree murder and terrorism charges after he allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower to attack demonstrators advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, Boulder County authorities said early Monday.
The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman of El Paso County, was booked late Sunday night on a $10 million bond. Charges listed on the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office booking sheet include:
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Two counts of first-degree murder (one for “extreme indifference” and one for “deliberation with intent”)
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One count of attempted murder
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First-degree assault
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Use of explosives or incendiary devices
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Causing serious injury to an at-risk adult (aged 70 or older)
Soliman reportedly shouted “Free Palestine!” before launching the attack on Pearl Street, in front of the historic Boulder County Courthouse, during a peaceful weekly demonstration hosted by Run for Their Lives – Boulder, a group that raises awareness for the estimated 23 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023, terror attacks.
Eight people, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were hospitalized with serious burns and injuries. One eyewitness, Brooke Coffman, described a horrific scene.
“I saw this big fire go up… two women were in their underwear, their legs badly burned,” she told Denver’s NBC affiliate KUSA. “Another woman’s hair was completely burned off.”
Other bystanders rushed in with jugs of water to help extinguish the flames. Coffman said the suspect — shirtless and holding two bottles — was pacing and shouting after the assault.
Terrorism and Hate Crime Investigations Underway
FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek confirmed Sunday the bureau is investigating the incident as a “targeted terror attack.” Boulder police say the suspect was apprehended on the scene with minor injuries and is believed to have acted alone.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser called the incident a hate crime, citing the specific targeting of a Jewish solidarity group.
“Given the group that was attacked, this appears to be an act of hate,” said Weiser, whose own family survived the Holocaust.
The White House also weighed in. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed Soliman entered the U.S. legally on a tourist visa but overstayed, later receiving a work permit from the Biden administration.
“This is a terror attack. Suicidal migration must be fully reversed,” Miller posted on X.
Community and Political Response
The attack has stunned the Boulder Jewish community. A joint statement from several synagogues and local Jewish organizations read:
“When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken… Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.”
Although law enforcement stressed that the motive remains under investigation, officials confirmed Soliman is an Egyptian national with no known ties to extremist groups or prior serious legal trouble. Authorities are analyzing his online activity and clothing disguise, which some witnesses described as resembling a landscaper.
What’s Next
Soliman is scheduled to appear in court Monday at 1:30 p.m. MT. Prosecutors say more charges may follow as the investigation unfolds.
If confirmed as a hate-motivated terror attack, this would mark one of the most serious acts of politically charged violence in Boulder in years.
