An immigrant, motivated by anti-Semitic beliefs, has been accused of brutally attacking a peaceful pro-Israel group advocating for hostages held captive by Hamas.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national in the United States despite reportedly overstaying his visa, is suspected of attacking a group of individuals participating in a walk in Boulder, Colorado.
‘This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts.’
The attack targeted the “Run for Their Lives” group, a grassroots organization that gathered on Pearl Street on Sunday evening to support the release of the hostages captured by the terrorist group in October 2023. According to the FBI, the group chapter gathers weekly.
Video footage of the attack allegedly showed a shirtless Soliman yelling at the group while holding two apparent Molotov cocktails, with a small patch of grass burning at his feet.
During the attack, Soliman allegedly yelled, “Free Palestine!”
A second video showed a lone police officer handcuffing Soliman. Moments later, another officer arrived to assist with the arrest.
As the arrest was taking place, bystanders filled containers with water from a nearby fountain to soothe victims’ burn wounds, according to a video shared on social media.
The individual who uploaded the videos to social media stated that in addition to Molotov cocktails, the suspect used a gardening tool to “light[] people on fire with gasoline,” burning “about 6 people.”
Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of FBI Denver, described the device as “a makeshift flamethrower.”
CNN reported that eight people, from 52 to 88 years old, were injured in the attack, including a Holocaust survivor. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn described one of the victims as “very seriously injured.”
Authorities have not reported any fatalities.
The FBI stated that it is investigating the attack as “a targeted act of terrorism.”
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a post on X, “We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated, “This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts.”
Soliman was detained on Sunday evening and remains in custody at the Boulder County Jail on a $10 million bond, according to Fox News. Soliman reportedly faces numerous charges, including first-degree murder, crimes against at-risk adults/elderly, assault, and use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony.
As of Monday morning, jail records stated Soliman was charged with “murder in the 1st degree” despite no reported fatalities.
The police department confirmed in a Monday post on social media that “no victims have died.”
When contacted for clarification, the department stated he was charged with “attempted murder.”
Dionne Waugh, the department’s public information officer, who included pronouns in her email signature linked to a resource on “personal pronouns,” told Blaze News, “Please read the code section. It’s attempted murder.”
Soliman’s first court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that Soliman was illegally in the U.S.
Assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin stated that he lawfully entered the country in August 2022 on a B-2 visa but illegally remained in the U.S. after the visa expired in February 2023. She noted that he filed for asylum in September 2022.
The DHS confirmed to Blaze News that Soliman “is illegally in our country.”
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The post ‘Terror attack’: ‘Illegal’ alien captured after allegedly setting pro-Israel demonstrators ablaze in Boulder, Colorado appeared first on TheBlaze.
