Flamethrower Attack at Colorado Jewish Rally Sparks Fear and Condemnation
Authorities say the suspect, an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, targeted the Jewish community in an assault that has drawn national condemnation and calls for unity
A peaceful rally in solidarity with Israeli hostages turned into a horrifying scene on Sunday when a man armed with a makeshift flamethrower attacked participants in downtown Boulder, injuring eight people, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, and shocking one of Colorado’s largest Jewish communities.
Authorities said the attacker, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, used Molotov cocktails and shouted "Free Palestine" during the assault at Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian area.
The victims, four men and four women, were rushed to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of burns. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and courage, as bystanders rushed with water to douse flames engulfing victims.
Police quickly subdued Soliman, an Egyptian citizen who had overstayed a B2 tourist visa and applied for asylum in the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The Boulder rally was part of a weekly event organized by Run for Their Lives, a movement supporting the release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. The gathering was not billed as a political demonstration but as a “quiet and respectful” walk, according to Elyana Funk, executive director of the University of Boulder Hillel.
“This wasn’t a pro-Israel rally,” Funk said. “These are peaceful people who’ve been walking weekly to bring awareness for the hostages.”
The attack, which coincided with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, has drawn widespread condemnation and intensified concerns over rising antisemitism in the U.S.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, described the violence as part of a troubling pattern. “Make no mistake: if and when Jews are targeted to protest Israel’s actions, it should clearly and unequivocally be understood and condemned as antisemitism,” she said.
Rabbi Fred Greene of Har HaShem synagogue in Boulder urged accountability and unity. “What happened here is shameful… If we want peace, if we want dignity for people, there have to be other ways than this kind of violence.”
The attack also prompted political reaction. Former President Donald Trump condemned the incident on Truth Social, blaming President Joe Biden for the suspect’s presence in the country, although Soliman had entered legally.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, recalling the city’s tragic 2021 supermarket shooting, acknowledged the fear gripping the community but called for solidarity. “Boulder has recovered from acts of violence before and we will again recover. I urge this community to come together. Now is not the time to be divisive.”
As the investigation continues, local Jewish leaders are vowing resilience. “The antidote for antisemitism,” Funk said, “can be Jewish joy, and Jewish community, and Jewish connection.”
