In brief
A horrific attack on a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colo., left eight injured when the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower. The assailant, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an Egyptian citizen whose tourist visa expired in 2023. Authorities are treating the incident as an act of terrorism and investigating potential hate crime implications.
A shocking incident unfolded in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday when a man used a "makeshift flamethrower" to injure eight people during a peaceful gathering supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza. This event has become a weekly demonstration since the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Among the injured, four men and four women, aged between 52 and 88, were hospitalized with burns and other serious injuries, leading to two victims being airlifted to a specialized burn unit in Denver. Investigators have identified the suspect as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national who is reportedly in the United States illegally following the expiration of his tourist visa in February 2023. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Soliman applied for asylum shortly after arriving in the U.S. in August 2022 but did not disclose any further details. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as Soliman allegedly threw an incendiary device into the crowd while shouting "Free Palestine." This unexpected attack led to panic among participants who had gathered to draw attention to hostages held by Hamas. The Boulder County Jail has booked Soliman on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, although no fatalities have been confirmed as authorities continue to investigate. Community leaders express growing concern about rising antisemitism, with Governor Jared Polis condemning the attack as an act of terrorism aimed at a peaceful assembly. Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, labeled it a potential hate crime, urging agents of peace to dissent violence amidst differing political beliefs. The emotional aftermath of the attack weighs heavily on the Jewish community in Boulder, where the weekly walks have now been suspended indefinitely. Many participants, including local residents like Lisa Effress, express distress over the breach of safety that the attack symbolizes. The sentiments of danger and fear are now overshadowing a long-held tradition of peaceful protest, mirroring the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
