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By Nick Mordowanec
Staff Writer
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Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man who allegedly attacked a march in support of the Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, waited to carry out the attack until his daughter had graduated, according to new FBI documents.
Why It Matters
Authorities described Soliman as shouting "free Palestine" as he allegedly attacked a march in downtown Boulder as an organization called "Run For Their Lives" met for a walk around 1 p.m. Sunday to call attention to Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza.
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On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas led an attack against Israel, killing 1,200 and abducting 251 people. Today, around 58 people remain captive. Israel has since launched an offensive on Gaza, killing more than 54,000 people, according to the Associated Press, citing Gaza's Health Ministry.
What To Know
Soliman reportedly told the FBI that "he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack."
He also told authorities that he researched on YouTube how to make Molotov cocktails, purchased the necessary ingredients, and constructed them before traveling to Boulder. He stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead, according to the FBI. Victims sustained burn injuries.
According to White House Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Soliman overstayed his tourist visa under the Biden administration and was then granted a work permit to remain in the United States.
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Authorities discovered a black plastic container with a yellow top near the location of Soliman's arrest, with the black plastic container containing at least 14 unlit Molotov cocktails, comprised of glass wine carafe bottles or Ball jars containing clear liquid and red rags hanging out of the bottles.
"Near the black plastic container was a backpack weed sprayer, potentially containing a flammable substance," court documents say. "The clear liquid in the glass bottles and weed sprayer were determined to be 87 octane gasoline, which was determined to contain xylene based on a field test."
Soliman's vehicle, a 2015 silver Toyota Prius with a Colorado license plate registered in his name, was found parked near the scene of the attack. Authorities say that "visible" inside the vehicle was red material consistent with the rags found in the black plastic container, a red gas container, and paperwork with the words "Israel," "Palestine," and "USAID." The vehicle was later moved to the FBI Denver facility.
Six victims, aged 67 to 88, were transported to local hospitals after Soliman allegedly used a "makeshift flamethrower" and hurled "an incendiary device" into the crowd. All six victims are reportedly still being treated, with one listed as seriously injured.
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What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, Monday on Truth Social: "Yesterday's horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in the United States of America.
"Acts of Terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland. My heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and the Great People of Boulder, Colorado!"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews."
White House Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Monday on X (formerly Twitter): "The Biden Admin granted the alien a visa and then, when he illegally overstayed, they gave him a work permit. Immigration security is national security. No more hostile migration. Keep them out and send them back."
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Monday on X: "I am horrified by last night's horrific attack in Boulder. My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country. Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists."
What Happens Next
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that due to the attack and the reports that Soliman was in the country illegally, it is revamping its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tip line to 24 hours to provide Americans "the ability to report suspicious criminal activity by illegal aliens including terrorist activity, gang related crimes, and suspected sex trafficking."
Update 6/2/25, 2:56 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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