Boulder Firebombing: Man Indicted on 12 Federal Hate Charges

Boulder Man Indicted on 12 Federal Hate Crime Charges Following Firebomb Attack on Pro-Israel March

BOULDER, CO – A man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at participants in a march supporting Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a dozen hate crime counts. The attack, which injured at least 15 people and a dog, occurred on June 1, 2025, during a weekly demonstration by the group “Run For Their Lives” near the Boulder County Courthouse on Pearl Street Mall.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, an Egyptian national reportedly residing in the U.S. illegally, now faces 12 federal hate crime charges, according to the Department of Justice and court documents unsealed in the U.S. District Court of Colorado. He was initially charged with a single hate crime count shortly after the incident.

Details of the Indictment and Attack

The federal indictment accuses Soliman of attempting to kill eight individuals who were injured during the attack, alleging he targeted them specifically because of their actual or perceived national origin. Prosecutors contend that Soliman’s actions were motivated by bias against those supporting the existence of Israel.

During the June 1 assault, Soliman allegedly approached the crowd with a backpack containing a flammable liquid and a container holding at least 18 glass bottles and jars filled with flammable liquid, including Molotov cocktails. Witnesses and court documents state he threw at least two Molotov cocktails at the demonstrators while shouting “Free Palestine.”

Evidence cited in the indictment and supporting affidavits to demonstrate Soliman’s motive includes:

A handwritten letter found in his vehicle that read, “Zionism is our enemies until Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land,” and referred to Israel as a “cancer entity.”
Statements Soliman allegedly made to law enforcement, indicating he viewed “anyone supporting the exist [sic] of Israel on our land” as “Zionist.” He reportedly stated he decided to “take [his] revenge” on these people and actively searched online for “any Zionist event” before targeting the Boulder demonstration.

According to investigators and affidavits, Soliman confessed to the attack and expressed a desire “to kill all Zionist people,” wishing they were all dead. He reportedly told police he would “do it again” and hoped he had “burned them all. I killed [sic] them all. This was my dream.” He also claimed the attack was not aimed at the Jewish community but specifically at the “Zionist group.”

The FBI has reportedly described the incident as involving a “makeshift flamethrower” in addition to the Molotov cocktails and is investigating it as an act of terrorism. Authorities recovered 16 unused Molotov cocktails, made from glass carafes or jars filled with gasoline and xylene, from the scene.

Victims and Community Impact

The firebombing resulted in injuries to 15 people and one dog. Victims ranged in age from 25 to 88. Several victims suffered burns requiring hospitalization, with some describing harrowing experiences of seeing flames erupt around them and others being instantly engulfed.

The attack sent shockwaves through the community, particularly among Jewish residents. Hundreds gathered for a vigil at the Jewish Community Center in Boulder to honor victims and witnesses, sharing emotional testimony and finding solace in prayer and song. The incident occurred on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and against the backdrop of rising antisemitic incidents in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Legal Arguments and Related Developments

In addition to the federal hate crime charges, Soliman also faces multiple state charges in Colorado, including 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder and 118 other counts. His bond in state court was initially set at $10 million.

Soliman’s defense team has indicated they plan to argue that his actions were motivated by his hatred of the group’s political beliefs – specifically their support for Israel – rather than their national origin. They contend that political beliefs are not a protected class under hate crime statutes. However, a Magistrate Judge commented in a previous hearing that targeting those who support the existence of the Israeli state “by virtue brings it to national origin,” suggesting the distinction may be difficult to draw in this case.

Adding a complex layer to the case, U.S. immigration authorities briefly detained Soliman’s wife and their five children, who are also Egyptian nationals. While they have not been charged in connection with the attack, authorities initiated deportation proceedings, stating they were in the country illegally. A U.S. District Judge later granted the family’s request to temporarily block their deportation after their attorneys filed a lawsuit arguing it was unlawful to punish individuals for the alleged crimes of relatives. Soliman reportedly claimed his family had no prior knowledge of his plans.

According to U.S. officials, Soliman arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa in August 2022 that expired in February 2023. He filed for asylum shortly after arriving and received a work authorization that expired in March 2023.

The attack and subsequent indictment have drawn widespread condemnation from officials across the political spectrum, highlighting concerns about political violence and rising hate crimes in the U.S.

Soliman is scheduled to appear in federal court for a hearing related to the indictment on Friday.