On June 2, just one day after a violent attack that occurred on Pearl Street in Boulder, Mohammed Sabry Soliman was charged with one act of hate crime “involving actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin,” according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Twelve individuals were injured in the attack, which was perpetrated by Soliman.
At around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Soliman threw two lit Molotov cocktails (incendiary bombs) at individuals participating in a gathering near the Boulder Courthouse. According to the USAO, the individuals were “members of ‘Run for Their Lives,’ which organizes weekly walks to call attention to the Israeli hostages in Gaza.” The USAO said that when Soliman threw the Molotov cocktails, he yelled “Free Palestine.” He was booked into the Boulder County Jail on multiple charges on Sunday afternoon.
During an interview with local and federal law enforcement, the USAO said that Soliman stated that he “wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead” and said that he would conduct the attack again. He said that he had been planning the attack for a year.
The court proceeding for Soliman took place yesterday afternoon within the courtroom located in the Boulder County Jail. The city said on Sunday that the FBI was investigating the attack as a “targeted act of terrorism.” An act of “terrorism” and a “hate crime” are distinct legal classifications defined by different motivations and goals.
According to the USAO, the case is still being investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office and the Boulder Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, the Civil Rights Division and the National Security Division, both of the Department of Justice, and in coordination with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office (Twentieth Judicial District). Soliman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The FBI takes seriously its mission to protect the people of the United States, nationally as well as here in Colorado and Boulder,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Hate-fueled acts of violence have no place in our communities, and we will use every tool and resource available to hold those who commit such acts accountable.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is Jewish, spoke out about the attack on X.
“We celebrate free speech in Colorado,” he said. “Those targeted in Sunday's attack were targeted for antisemitic reasons and to intimidate members of the Jewish community; in our state, everybody should have their free speech rights respected.”
The Boulder City Council and city leadership team issued a statement about the attack yesterday, acknowledging “in the strongest possible terms that this was a targeted, antisemitic attack.”
“We stand in solidarity and sadness with those directly impacted by the attack as well as Boulder’s entire Jewish community,” the statement said. “We are united in condemning this hateful act of terror against Jewish people. The right of individuals to gather peacefully to express their viewpoints and show support for causes they care about is fundamental to democracy and a core tenet of our local values.”
The council and leadership team said that they aim to support the Boulder community in the aftermath of the attack.
So far, 12 individuals are confirmed to have been injured by the attack. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn told the Denver Post that all victims are expected to survive.
