Colorado Suspect Wanted To 'Kill All Zionists', Delayed Attack For Daughter's Graduation

Last Updated:June 03, 2025, 09:10 IST

Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned a Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, for over a year. He delayed the assault until after his daughter’s high school graduation.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman (L)/ Officials on the spot after an attack in Colorado (R) (Photos: AFP)

Forty-five-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, charged with tossing gasoline bombs at a pro-Israeli rally in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, had been planning the attack for a year, according to prosecutors.

Investigations into the incident also revealed that the Egyptian national used Molotov cocktails instead of a gun to attack people, because his noncitizen status blocked him from buying firearms.

Soliman told investigators that he wanted to “kill all Zionist people" but had delayed committing the attack until after his daughter had graduated from high school, according to state and federal court documents charging him with attempted murder, assault and a federal hate crime.

According to the police and affidavits obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Soliman told investigators he had learned how to make the fire bombs from YouTube. However, he could not use the same of his immigration status.

WHO IS MOHAMED SABRY SOLIMAN

Federal authorities said Soliman was in the country illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa and an expired work permit.

A police affidavit filed in support of Soliman’s arrest warrant stated he was born in Egypt, lived in Kuwait for 17 years and moved three years ago to Colorado Springs, about 100 miles (161 km) south of Boulder, where he lived with his wife and five children.

Hours after the attack, federal and local authorities, addressing a news conference, said Soliman had done nothing to draw law enforcement attention before Sunday’s incident. He was believed to have acted alone, they said.

The attack came as the Donald Trump administration is already cracking down on illegal immigration in the country.

THE COLORADO ATTACK

An affidavit in the case revealed that the suspect threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in the pro-Israel gathering. Soliman yelled “Free Palestine" and ignited the crowd.

The victims, many of them elderly, were taking part in an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel.

Later, US Attorney General Pam Bondi described the fire-bombing as an “antisemitic terror attack."

Authorities said they found 16 gasoline-filled Molotov cocktails near where the suspect was detained.

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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