Was the Boulder Firebombing a Backup Plan? Terror Suspect Denied Gun Before Attack

On June 1, 2025, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, launched a firebomb attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, injuring 12 people and sparking widespread outrage. Charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder under state law, Soliman’s actions are being investigated as an act of terrorism. Court documents reveal he meticulously planned the assault for a year, delaying it until after his daughter’s high school graduation, expecting to die in the act.

Soliman, who disguised himself as a gardener, drove 100 miles from Colorado Springs to Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, where the “Run for Their Lives” rally was advocating for Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Unable to purchase a firearm due to his illegal immigration status, he researched Molotov cocktail construction on YouTube, assembling eight devices using gasoline-filled wine bottles and mason jars. He also wielded a makeshift flamethrower, shouting “Free Palestine” and “End Zionist” while hurling firebombs, though he admitted to throwing only two due to fear. Sixteen unused Molotov cocktails and a gasoline-filled backpack sprayer were found at the scene.

The attack hospitalized eight victims, aged 52 to 88, including a Holocaust survivor, with burns; four others reported minor injuries. Soliman, a father of five, confessed to targeting the “Zionist group” to “kill all Zionist people,” expressing intent to repeat the act. He entered the U.S. on a B2 visa in 2022, overstayed after its 2023 expiration, and applied for asylum. His temporary work permit, recently expired, led to his Uber driving account being banned post-attack.

Held on a $10 million bond, Soliman appeared in court on June 2, with state charges to be formally filed Thursday. The Department of Homeland Security warned of potential copycat attacks amid Israel-Hamas tensions, noting a recent shooting of Israeli embassy workers in Washington, D.C. President Trump vowed prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law,” while local leaders condemned the “despicable” antisemitic act.