Mohammed Sabry Soliman, charged with federal hate crimes, allegedly plotted a Molotov cocktail attack for a year, revealing troubling motivations linked to anti-Zionism ahead of a Jewish holiday.
Colorado Molotov Cocktail Attack Planned for Year: FBI
Colorado Molotov Cocktail Attack Planned for Year: FBI
FBI details premeditated attack targeting pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, resulting in multiple injuries.
A man arrested for attacking pro-Israel demonstrators with incendiary devices in Boulder, Colorado, was allegedly planning the assault for a year, according to FBI reports. Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been charged with a federal hate crime, as well as state charges including attempted murder and the use of an explosive device. His attack, which took place during a march for Israeli hostages on Sunday, left eight demonstrators injured.
Investigators say Soliman targeted a group of protesters at the Pearl Street Mall, brandishing two Molotov cocktails and shouting slogans like "Free Palestine.” Eight of the victims suffered burns, and twelve were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The attack coincided with the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
Following the incident, law enforcement recovered at least 16 unlit Molotov cocktails and a backpack sprayer filled with octane gasoline at the scene. During a recent court appearance via video from Boulder County Jail, Soliman did not speak much but confirmed procedural inquiries from the judge.
Witness accounts and video captured during the event accentuate the chaos and trauma experienced by the people present. The march was organized by “Run for Their Lives,” aimed at raising awareness about Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Court documents reveal that Soliman had been inspired to carry out the attack after watching instruction videos on creating Molotov cocktails. He indicated to authorities that he wanted to "kill all Zionists" and claimed he felt compelled to act because of his beliefs regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In an alarming revelation, Soliman had hidden his iPhone at his home, leaving messages for his family prior to the attack. He reportedly drove from Colorado Springs to Boulder just before the demonstration commenced, purchasing gasoline en route. Having moved to the U.S. from Kuwait, Soliman had overstayed his non-immigrant visa and sought asylum shortly after his arrival in California in 2022.
Concerning his legal standing, there has been a notable response from political figures. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed at the need to address potential threats posed by individuals on visas, aiming to clamp down on what he termed "Anti-American Radicals."
This incident is part of a broader pattern of rising antisemitic violence in the U.S., reflecting an alarming trend of hostility towards Jewish individuals amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine tensions, witnessed previously in several other violent incidents.
