Attack on Pro-Israel Rally in Colorado Escalates Tensions

On June 1, 2025, a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, was violently disrupted when Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly attacked participants with Molotov cocktails, injuring at least 15 people and a dog. The incident has intensified political tensions in Boulder, highlighting divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The rally, organized by "Run for Their Lives," aimed to advocate for the release of hostages held by Hamas. Witnesses reported that Soliman shouted "Free Palestine!" during the attack. He has been charged with 118 counts in Colorado state court, including 28 counts of attempted murder, and faces a federal hate crime charge.

The attack occurred at approximately 1:26 p.m. MDT near the Pearl Street Mall. Soliman, reportedly dressed as a gardener to blend in, used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to assault participants. Fifteen individuals, aged between 52 and 88, sustained injuries. One victim, an 88-year-old Holocaust refugee, was among those harmed. A dog was also injured. Six people, including Soliman, were hospitalized. As of June 2, two victims remained hospitalized.

Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, entered the U.S. on a B-2 nonimmigrant visa on August 27, 2022, and applied for asylum in September 2022. His visa expired in February 2023, and his work authorization expired on March 28, 2025. He had been living in the Colorado Springs area at the time of the attack. According to investigators, Soliman expressed a desire "to kill all Zionist people" and had planned the attack for a year. He reportedly brought 18 Molotov cocktails but threw only two, injuring 15 people and a dog, while shouting "Free Palestine."

In addition to the state charges, Soliman faces a federal hate crime charge, which carries a potential life sentence. He appeared in Boulder County Court on June 2, 2025, where his bail was set at $10 million. He appeared in federal court on June 6, 2025, for the hate crime charge.

The attack has intensified political tensions in Boulder, highlighting divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Councilmember Taishya Adams declined to sign a city statement condemning antisemitism, citing the absence of anti-Zionism as a contributing motive, which drew widespread criticism and a recall petition. Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the incident as a "vicious act of terrorism." U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Department of Justice would hold the alleged attacker "accountable to the fullest extent of the law." President Donald Trump announced plans to deport Soliman, stating: "This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland."

The incident reflects a broader trend of increasing antisemitic acts in the U.S., with the FBI treating the attack as an act of terrorism. The attack has deepened existing political divides within Boulder, particularly concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict. The incident underscores broader ideological fractures within Boulder amid ongoing city council confrontations and protests related to the Gaza conflict.

"Run for Their Lives" is a national group that has hosted weekly events since October 7, 2023, in support of hostages held in Gaza. The Boulder chapter organized the June 1, 2025, demonstration.

The attack at the "Run for Their Lives" rally has not only led to serious legal charges against Soliman but also sparked a broader conversation about domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and community divisions in the context of international conflicts.