Survivors and witnesses of a distressing attack on peaceful marchers in Colorado this past Sunday spoke about the violence. This incident left 15 participants injured as they called for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
A suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabri Soliman from Egypt, is facing hate crime charges. He reportedly used a makeshift flamethrower along with Molotov cocktails during the attack as the victims fled.
The chaos erupted shortly after co-organizer Omer Shacher, 34, encouraged marchers to stand firm in their support for the prisoners. “The attackers wanted us to burn,” Shacher recounted. “It’s just absurd.”
Dmitriy Reznik, a 57-year-old blogger who was in the group, stated that he was bewildered as flames erupted. He recalled dragging his wife, Natalia, 52, from the danger and laying her on the grass. “She was burnt and clearly in distress,” he shared.
Natalia was one of the many hurt during the attack. She was airlifted to a hospital in Aurora and is receiving treatment for second-degree burns. In a post on her Russian Facebook page, she reflected on the surreal nature of the day, expressing gratitude that no one lost their life.
Authorities reported that Soliman had disguised himself as a maintenance worker, waiting for the group and scouting their social media. He told investigators that he had schemed for over a year, initially aiming to carry out a mass shooting, but his immigration status hindered his plan to obtain a firearm.
Soliman unleashed a brutal assault on the marchers while expressing hatred for “Zionist people” and insisting he wanted them dead. He reportedly yelled for a “free Palestine.”
Barbara Steinmetz, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, was among those injured. Rabbi Mark Soloway described her as “a peaceful warrior” dedicated to various causes. “It’s horrific for someone who survived the Holocaust to witness such appalling violence,” he remarked.
Despite the violence, the community is pressing forward with a Jewish festival that had already been scheduled, now with added security measures. Denver’s Run for Life chapter plans to participate in the event to honor the victims of last week’s attack.
Shacher emphasized the ongoing plight of 58 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, stating that their situation compels continued advocacy. Soliman faces multiple federal hate crime charges and counts of attempted murder; if convicted, he could be sentenced to over 600 years in prison. He appeared in court on Thursday, where formal charges were reinstated.
