A man suspected of domestic terrorism in Boulder, Colorado, had been planning to attack a pro-Israel march for a year, according to court documents. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national whose visa is valid until March 2025, informed federal officials that he believed violence had been ongoing for quite some time.
In his discussions with authorities, Soliman stated he intended to wait until after his daughter graduated before executing his plan, as noted in a federal complaint.
Following his daughter’s graduation, he reportedly set his plan into motion. He had researched how to create Molotov cocktails on YouTube, gathered materials over time, and stored his homemade devices in his silver Toyota Prius.
Soliman arrived at the march on June 1st, shortly before 1 PM. Witnesses indicated that he yelled “Free Palestine!” before launching two Molotov cocktails into the crowd. Authorities apprehended him soon after. The FBI has classified the incident as a “targeted terrorist attack,” which injured 12 individuals, aged between 52 and 88, although none were fatally harmed.
During questioning, Soliman expressed his desire to harm what he termed the “Zionist group,” revealing that he wished for them to perish. He claimed the event attendees posed an existential threat to “our land” and that action was necessary.
Investigators discovered at least 14 Molotov cocktails, along with gasoline and other materials to facilitate fire. In Soliman’s car, they found notes with phrases including “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.”
Witnesses later reported seeing him without a shirt, agitatedly holding one of his makeshift weapons and shouting about the loss of children, ending with claims to “End Zionist.”
Law enforcement also examined Soliman’s residence, where it was reported he had left family members with an iPhone. His wife later gave this phone to the authorities. Additionally, storage units tied to him were searched.
Soliman faces charges under federal law regarding hate crimes motivated by race, religion, or national origin.
