A man in Boulder, Colorado, was charged with attempted murder, assault, cruelty to animals, and explosives crimes after throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, planned the attack for a year and targeted participants at a weekly demonstration at the Pearl Street pedestrian mall. Despite planning to harm all 20 participants, he only threw two cocktails while yelling “Free Palestine.” Soliman expressed a desire to “kill all Zionist people” and showed no remorse for his actions.
The victims of the attack included 15 people and a dog, with ages ranging from 25 to 88. Soliman’s family, who are Egyptian nationals, were detained by immigration officials but have not been charged in the attack. Soliman’s wife, Hayam El Gamal, and their five children are being held at an immigration detention center in Texas.
Soliman had been in the U.S. since August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023. He filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization, which has also expired. His wife has a pending EB-2 visa as a network engineer. Hundreds gathered at a vigil in Boulder to honor the victims of the firebombing attack in the city’s downtown.
The emotional testimony from victims and witnesses highlighted the impact of the attack on the community. The incident has sparked discussions about immigration laws and the consequences of violent acts fueled by hate. The defendant’s family is entangled in legal proceedings as they navigate their immigration status and the aftermath of the tragic event.
