Six Injured in Suspected Terror Attack at Hostage Rally in Colorado

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, a peaceful rally organized by the group Run for Their Lives in Boulder, Colorado, was violently disrupted when a man attacked participants with incendiary devices. The incident occurred around 1:26 p.m. at the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian area in downtown Boulder. The rally aimed to raise awareness for Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, reportedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack the crowd. Witnesses stated that Soliman shouted phrases such as “Free Palestine” and “End Zionists” during the assault. Six individuals, aged between 67 and 88, sustained injuries, with two victims airlifted to a burn unit in Aurora, Colorado, one of whom remains in critical condition.

Soliman was apprehended at the scene without resistance and transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Authorities have confirmed that Soliman is an Egyptian national who entered the United States on a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023. He had been residing in the country unlawfully since then.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is treating the incident as a targeted act of terrorism and a potential hate crime. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the bureau is fully investigating the attack, emphasizing its ideological motivations. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser condemned the assault, labeling it a hate crime and affirming the right to peaceful assembly.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly among Jewish residents. Rabbi Israel Wilhelm of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Chabad center confirmed that one of the victims is a Holocaust survivor. Brandon Rattiner, senior director of the Colorado Jewish Community Relations Council, expressed deep concern over the rise in antisemitic incidents, noting that the rally was intended as a non-political demonstration of solidarity with hostages.

This incident follows a series of recent attacks in the United States linked to tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, including the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., last month. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the Boulder attack, and further details are expected as the situation develops.