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2025 Boulder fire attack

Coordinates: 40°1′7″N 105°16′41″W / 40.01861°N 105.27806°W / 40.01861; -105.27806
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2025 Boulder fire attack
Part of violent incidents in reaction to the Gaza war
Police and first responders near the crime scene
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220m
240yds
LocationPearl Street Mall, Boulder, Colorado, United States
Coordinates40°1′7″N 105°16′41″W / 40.01861°N 105.27806°W / 40.01861; -105.27806
DateJune 1, 2025
c.1:26 p.m. (MDT)
TargetWalk participants
Attack type
Firebombing
WeaponsMakeshift flamethrower, Molotov cocktails
Injured16 (including the suspect)
AccusedMohamed Soliman
Charges
  • Attempted first-degree murder – extreme indifference (8 counts under C.R.S. § 18-3-102)
  • Attempted first-degree murder – after deliberation (8 counts under C.R.S. § 18-3-102)
  • First-degree assault - at-risk victim (6 counts under C.R.S. § 18-3-202)
  • First-degree assault (2 counts under C.R.S. § 18-3-202)
  • Possession of an incendiary device (2 counts under C.R.S. § 18-12-109)
  • Attempted possession of an incendiary device (16 counts under C.R.S. § 18-12-109)
  • Hate crime act - actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin (1 count under 18 U.S.C. § 249)

On June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, United States, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian man living in Colorado, allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack a group participating in a solidarity walk for the hostages taken from Israel during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. The attack left sixteen people injured, including the suspect. Soliman yelled several political expressions during the attack, and later stated in a police interview that he targeted the group because he believed they were Zionists.[1] Soliman was charged with a federal hate crime[2] and 118 state criminal charges.

Background

A solidarity walk was organized by the local Boulder chapter of Run for Their Lives, a national group which has hosted weekly events since October 7, 2023, in support of the hostages held in Gaza.[3] The walk began at Pearl Street and 8th Street, passed through the Pearl Street Mall, and included a scheduled video presentation at the old Boulder County Courthouse. The organizers said that the event was not a protest, but rather a nonviolent march intended as a plea for the release of the hostages.[4]

Attack

Before the attack, the attacker dressed himself as a gardener so he could get close to the protest without attracting much attention. He bought flowers from Home Depot, wore an orange vest, and carried a backpack weed sprayer filled with gasoline.[5]

Witnesses reported that at around 1:26 p.m. MDT, a shirtless man threw Molotov cocktails at participants in the walk near 13th Street and Pearl Street. Miri Kornfeld, an organizer with Run for Their Lives, told KUSA-TV that when they arrived a man was waiting there and threw bottles at them. A woman was badly burned and had to roll on the ground to put the fire out.[6] According to the FBI, the attacker yelled "End Zionist", "Free Palestine", and "How many children killed" during the attack.[7]

Video footage and images from the scene showed burn damage on the sidewalk, and at least one person being taken away on a stretcher.[4] Police chief Stephen Redfearn said there were multiple teams still working in downtown Boulder "clearing that area for devices". He added that there were police dogs and bomb squads in the area, and that they want to make sure the area was safe before it was reopened.[8]

Police said they arrested a man at the scene.[4] According to police, the accused said that he threw two out of eighteen incendiary devices at the group of approximately 20 people. He accidentally burned himself after spraying himself with gasoline using the backpack device, telling investigators he planned on dying.[9]

Victims

According to state prosecutors, fifteen people, eight women and seven men, were considered victims of the attack, with the victims' ages ranging from 25 to 88. Some of those considered victims were not physically injured, but they were nonetheless considered victims because they were put at risk.[10][11] Six of the victims were hospitalized, with two requiring to be airlifted by a helicopter to the hospital.[11] Injuries included second and third degree burns; three of the victims were still hospitalized four days after the attack.[12]

The oldest victim, Barbara Steinmetz, is a Holocaust survivor who fled Europe, and another victim is a professor at the University of Colorado.[13][11]

Accused

The suspect was identified as 45-year-old Egyptian man Mohamed Sabry Soliman, born December 15, 1979.[14][15][16] Soliman was born and raised in Egypt and lived in Kuwait for 17 years.[16] He was not previously known to City of Boulder police,[5] but the El Paso County Sheriff's Office had responded to three calls involving Soliman.[17]

He had been living in the Cimarron Hills enclave of Colorado Springs with his wife and five children at the time of the attack.[10][16][17] A neighbor told a local television station that Soliman and his family moved into their apartment two years prior to the attack. The neighbor's daughter was a frequent guest at Soliman's apartment.[18]

According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, Soliman entered the United States on August 27, 2022, on a B-2 nonimmigrant visa, and applied for asylum the following month, September 2022. Soliman's visa expired in February 2023. In March 2023, he was granted work authorization, which expired on March 28, 2025. After that date, he remained in the United States illegally, according to the DHS and Department of Justice (DOJ).[19][20][21] His asylum application was not adjudicated at the time of his arrest.[22]

According to state and federal documents, Soliman planned the attack for a year, but waited until his daughter graduated from high school, which happened three days prior to the attack.[23] He researched how to make Molotov cocktails after having been denied the purchase of a gun due to his immigration status.[24][16] Police confirmed the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower and an incendiary device.[25][26]

Investigation

The FBI immediately described the incident as a "targeted terror attack", but during a press conference, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said it was "too early to discuss a motive".[27] While in custody, Soliman exhibited no remorse, saying that he hates "the Zionist group", that he wanted to kill all "Zionist people", and that if given the opportunity he would do it again. He was subsequently charged with a hate crime, and these comments were referenced in the affidavit.[28][7][29]

According to the affidavit, Soliman carried 18 Molotov cocktail bottles, but only used two of them “because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before”.[10] In addition to the Molotov cocktails, Soliman carried gasoline in a commercial-grade backpack and a weed sprayer. During the investigation, he told the detectives that he planned to use the weed sprayer to kill himself by self-immolation.[30] He also said that he had been planning the attack for a year and that he wanted to stop people from “taking over our land", which he said to be Palestine.[5]

Family of the accused

After the attack, immigration agents arrested Soliman’s wife and five children, according to secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem's post on X. Federal officials will be investigating whether any of his family members knew about the attack's plan. Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said that the government had revoked the visas of Soliman’s wife and her children.[10][22] According to court documents, Soliman said that no one, including his family, knew about his plans. Reportedly, Soliman left his iPhone in a desk drawer at his Colorado Springs residence that contained messages to his family. After the attack, his wife brought the phone to local police station, stating that it was his but was also used by other family members.[20]

On June 4, the Department of Homeland Security said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was “processing Soliman’s family members for removal proceedings from the U.S”. The same day, federal judge Gordon Gallagher of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado temporarily halted the deportation of the woman, Hayem El Gamal, and her five children. He said that deporting the family without "adequate process" may result in "irreparable harm".[31][32]

On June 1, Soliman was booked into Boulder County Jail on forty-two state felony charges. His bail was set at ten million dollars. He was charged with a federal hate crime on June 2.

During a court hearing on June 2, Soliman appeared via a video feed from the Boulder County Jail. He was wearing a prison jumpsuit and had a bandage on his head, covering his right ear. State judge Nancy W. Salomone said that Soliman is banned from having contact with any of the victims under a restraining order and did not change his $10 million bail. His lawyer said that he will not disclose his arguments about his bond conditions until a future date. During the hearing, the jail was put on lockdown which allowed nearby guards to monitor the courtroom and the jail’s entrance. According to a jail spokesperson, three snipers were also put on the roof of the jail for protection.[33][34]

On Thursday June 5, Soliman was charged in Boulder county court with 118 state criminal charges, including 28 counts of attempted murder.[35] The charges included animal cruelty because the attack injured a dog.[10] He made his first federal court appearance on June 6 where he was assigned a public defender since he could not afford his own legal representation. His next scheduled court appearance is June 18.[36]

Reactions

The attack was characterized as antisemitic by the City of Boulder,[37][a] the DOJ,[34] and press reports.[39] On June 2, a bipartisan group of Jewish state lawmakers called for “our allies to speak out” against antisemitic violence, releasing a statement which read in part, "we must confront hate forcefully, before it becomes normalized".[40] On June 4, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos,[41] condemned the attack as an antisemitic act, and connected it to other attacks against Jews and synagogues in the US and France.[42]

The Boulder Jewish Community Center held a vigil on June 4 which was attended by hundreds of people. One of the speakers at the vigil was a person who was targeted in the attack. She said it was "strange to see a man with a canister looking like he was going to spray pesticide on the grass."[43]

Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a statement on X, writing that "Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all, and I condemn this act of terror".[44] U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the DOJ would hold the alleged attacker "accountable to the fullest extent of the law".[45]

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social on June 2, 2025, that Soliman would be deported in addition to his arrest under his Administration, stating: "This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland. My heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and the Great People of Boulder, Colorado!”.[46][47] On June 4, Trump cited the incident as motivation for his second-term travel ban on foreign nationals from 12 countries and restrictions from 7 additional countries. Egypt was not among the countries listed for ban or restriction.[48]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack on June 2, attributing it to the blood libel conspiracy theory.[49]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The statement issued by the City of Boulder was signed by the mayor, mayor pro-tem, city manager, and all but one councilmember. Councilmember Taishya Adams refused to sign the statement, citing her desire to characterize the attack as both antisemitic and anti-Zionist.[38]

References

  1. ^ Barr, Luke; Shapiro, Emily; Stone, Alex; Deliso, Meredith (June 2, 2025). "Boulder attack suspect charged with federal hate crime, said he 'wanted to kill all Zionist people': Court documents". ABC News. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  2. ^ "Why Boulder suspect was charged with hate crime instead of act of terror". KOAA News 5. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  3. ^ Haubner, Andrew; Young, Olivia; Swanson, Christa; Milton, Pat (June 1, 2025). "What is "Run for Their Lives," the organization in Boulder, Colorado, targeted in Sunday's attack?". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "FBI director calls incident at Boulder's Pearl Street Mall in Colorado a "targeted terror attack;" multiple injured". CBS News. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Zhuang, Yan; Levenson, Michael; Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (June 2, 2025). "What to Know About the Boulder, Colorado, Attack and Suspect". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025.
  6. ^ "LIVE UPDATE: Multiple people burned in Pearl Street Mall attack". 9NEWS. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Erblat, Austen (June 2, 2025). "Boulder, Colorado, suspect facing 16 counts of attempted murder, federal hate crime charges; 12 victims total, police say". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  8. ^ "Six people hurt in suspected terror attack in Colorado after man sets people on fire, says FBI". BBC News. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "Suspect posed as a gardener in Boulder attack and planned to kill all in group he called 'Zionist'". AP News. June 2, 2025. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e Slevin, Collen; Rodriguez, Olga R.; Schoenbaum, Hannah (June 2, 2025). "What we know about the man charged in the attack in Boulder, Colorado". AP News.
  11. ^ a b c Swanson, Christa; Milton, Pat; Haubner, Andrew (June 5, 2025). "Attack in Boulder, Colorado, burns people at march for Israeli hostages, officials say; suspect charged". CBS News.
  12. ^ Paul, Jesse (June 6, 2025). "Boulder firebombing suspect, his face burned, makes first appearance in federal court". Colorado Sun.
  13. ^ Trujillo, Laura (June 5, 2025). "Holocaust survivor burned in Boulder speaks after attack: 'We are better than this'". USA Today.
  14. ^ Ensor, Josie (June 3, 2025). "Mohamed Soliman: Egyptian 'outstayed visa before Boulder attack'". The Times and The Sunday Times. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "FBI says 6 injured in Colorado attack by man with makeshift flamethrower who yelled 'Free Palestine'". AP News. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  16. ^ a b c d Pearce, Kyla (June 3, 2025). "Suspect in Boulder attack sprayed gas on himself and planned to die, affidavits say". Denver Gazette. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Stafford, Mackenzie (June 2, 2025). "Court documents reveal Boulder terror attack suspect lived in El Paso County for 3 years". KRDO. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  18. ^ Davis, Bradley (June 2, 2025). "Colorado Springs neighbor says Boulder terror attack suspect lived next door". KRDO-TV. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  19. ^ Barr, Luke; Shapiro, Emily (June 2, 2025). "Boulder attack suspect in US illegally: Homeland Security". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Colorado attack defendant backed off plan to kill all in a group he called 'Zionist,' police say". The Morning Call. June 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "Justice Department Files Federal Charges Against Alleged Perpetrator of Anti-Semitic Terror Attack in Colorado". United States Department of Justice. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  22. ^ a b Aleaziz, Hamed (June 3, 2025). "ICE Detains Family of Suspect in Colorado Attack". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  23. ^ "Boulder, Colorado attack: Suspect charged with federal hate crime, 16 counts of attempted murder". 6abc Philadelphia. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  24. ^ "Identify Prohibited Persons | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. January 9, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  25. ^ Cann, Christopher (June 1, 2025). "Who is Mohamed Soliman? FBI raids home of suspect in Colorado terror attack". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  26. ^ Grewe, Lindsey (June 2, 2025). "FBI searches home in eastern Colorado Springs with ties to suspect in Boulder 'terror attack'". KKTV. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  27. ^ "Police investigating attack at outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado". PBS. June 1, 2025.
  28. ^ "Suspect in Colorado fire attack on Israeli hostage advocates charged with federal hate crime". MSNBC.com. June 2, 2025. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  29. ^ Helmore, Edward (June 3, 2025). "Boulder attack suspect says he planned to use gun but was unable to buy one". The Guardian.
  30. ^ Helmore, Edward (June 3, 2025). "Boulder attack suspect says he planned to use gun but was unable to buy one". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  31. ^ Aleaziz, Hamed (June 4, 2025). "Judge Blocks Deportation of Family of Suspect in Colorado Attack". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  32. ^ Bacon, John (June 4, 2025). "Judge temporarily blocks deportation of family of man charged in Boulder terror attack". USA Today.
  33. ^ "Colorado fire-bomb suspect planned attack for a year". InDaily. June 3, 2025. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025.
  34. ^ a b Andrews, Nicky (June 2, 2025). "Antisemitic terror attack on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall planned for a year, FBI says; 4 new victims found". The Denver Post.
  35. ^ Erblat, Austen (June 5, 2025). "Boulder, Colorado, attack suspect formally charged with 118 counts of attempted murder, other charges in county court - CBS Colorado". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  36. ^ Dean, Cameron (June 6, 2025). "Suspect in Boulder attack appears for the first time in federal court". KKTV.
  37. ^ "Boulder attack suspect had 'no regrets' over long-planned 'antisemitic' plot, officials say". NBC News. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  38. ^ Herrick, John (June 3, 2025). "Boulder City Councilmember doesn't sign city statement condemning Pearl Street terror attack as antisemitic". Boulder Reporting Lab.
  39. ^ Gainor, Danya; Dam, TuAnh (June 3, 2025). "How a demonstration for Israeli hostages ended in an antisemitic firebombing". CNN.
  40. ^ "Colorado's Jewish state lawmakers decry antisemitism in Boulder attack: 'We must confront hate forcefully'". The Denver Post. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  41. ^ "United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)". United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Archived from the original on May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  42. ^ UNAOC (June 4, 2025). "Press Statement on Recent Acts of Antisemitism | UNAOC". United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  43. ^ Slevin, Colleen; Bedayn, Jesse; Santana, Rebecca; Golden, Hallie (June 5, 2025). "Victims of Boulder firebombing attack honored with vigil as suspect's family fights deportation". Associated Press.
  44. ^ "Governor Jared Polis on X". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  45. ^ Hutzler, Alexandra; Stoddart, Michelle (June 2, 2025). "Trump responds to Boulder attack in social media post, seizes on suspect's immigration status". ABC News.
  46. ^ "Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)". Truth Social. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  47. ^ Pennington, Lauren (June 2, 2025). "What we know about the Pearl Street Mall attack in Boulder". Daily Camera. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025.
  48. ^ "Trump announces travel ban and restrictions on 19 countries set to go into effect Monday". AP News. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  49. ^ Staff; Agencies. "Netanyahu says Boulder attack a direct result of 'blood libels' against Israel and Jews". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
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