Boulder Terror Investigation: Community Reactions
Boulder, Colorado – A Jewish couple recently shared the alarming events surrounding an attack on a pro-Israel demonstration in their city. The Costello family, who had just settled into their new home, were visited by the FBI following the arrest of their neighbor, Mohamed Mohamed Sabry Soliman, on charges of injuring twelve individuals during the incident.
“It was unsettling to come home and find the FBI at my door,” David Costello recounted. “They assured us we weren’t in trouble, but then they asked about the events in Boulder.” His wife, Livka, added that they felt a special connection to the case given their visible Jewish identity, marked by the Mezuzah at their door.
“Soliman must have seen us moving in,” David remarked. “We’re easily identifiable as Jews, especially with Livka wearing a head covering and me in traditional attire. It’s a miracle nothing happened to us.” He expressed concern that Soliman could have targeted their home directly.
The couple had tried to avoid drawing attention, having moved from a neighborhood where they felt uncomfortable due to ongoing anti-Israel sentiments. “We just wanted a peaceful place to settle down,” David explained. However, they couldn’t have anticipated the chaos that had unfolded right around the corner.
Livka noted the shocking realization of the gravity of the situation: “I didn’t grasp the scale of the story until we turned on our phones after the holiday. Suddenly, we were in the headlines.” They had limited access to news due to observance of religious practices during Shavuot.
Currently, Soliman, who has reportedly been planning this attack for over a year, is being held on a $10 million bond facing multiple charges, including attempted murder and hate crimes. “It’s terrifying,” Livka said, expressing her worries about their family’s safety as they live nearby. “What does that mean for Jewish families like ours living across the street from someone accused of such violence?”
Despite their fears, the Costellos are committed to standing firm in their beliefs. “If pushed, you can either retreat or take a stand,” David asserted. “We choose to stand.” They hope their voices can help counter the troubling rise in anti-Semitism.
