Uber driver Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned an anti-Zionist attack for a year, injuring 8 at a Boulder hostage rally

A peaceful walk organized by the group Run for Their Lives in Boulder, Colorado, turned into a scene of terror when a man attacked participants with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

The assailant, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, injured eight individuals aged between 52 and 88, including a Holocaust survivor. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of ideologically motivated terrorism.

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The suspect

Soliman, an Egyptian national, entered the US on a tourist visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023. He applied for asylum in September 2022 and was granted work authorization in March 2023. At the time of the attack, his asylum application was still pending.

He lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children and worked as an Uber driver. Neighbors described him as friendly but noted occasional loud arguments.

Motive and Charges

According to court documents, Soliman confessed to planning the attack for over a year, stating he wanted to "kill all Zionist people." He admitted to learning how to make incendiary devices via online videos and chose to attack his daughter's graduation.

The Department of Justice has charged him with a federal hate crime, and he faces additional state charges, including attempted murder and assault.

The victims

Among the eight injured were four men and four women, all hospitalized with burn-related injuries. One victim, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, was described by Rabbi Israel Wilhelm of the University of Colorado Boulder as "a very loving person."

Another victim is a professor at the University of Colorado. The community has rallied in support, with leaders urging resilience and unity in the face of hate.

The attack

The assault occurred around 1:30 pm at the Pearl Street Mall during a weekly event advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Witnesses reported that Soliman, shirtless and shouting "Free Palestine" and "End Zionists," threw incendiary devices into the crowd and used a flamethrower fashioned from a weed sprayer filled with gasoline.

He was apprehended at the scene and transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the attack.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the Boulder community and beyond. Governor Jared Polis condemned the violence as he emphasised the state's commitment to protecting all residents.