A sudden eruption of violence shattered the peaceful atmosphere of Boulder, Colorado's iconic Pearl Street Mall on Sunday, June 1, 2025, when a suspect launched a targeted attack during a silent march supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The FBI has described the incident as a "targeted act of violence" and is investigating it as an act of terrorism.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national residing recently in Colorado Springs, reportedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack participants in the "Run For Their Lives" march. Witnesses recounted harrowing scenes of flames shooting as high as a tree and victims engulfed in fire.
Ed Victor, a participant in the walk, described the moment the attack unfolded: "All of a sudden, I felt the heat. It was a Molotov cocktail equivalent, a gas bomb in a glass jar, thrown. Av [another marcher] saw it, a big flame as high as a tree, and all I saw was someone on fire." He and others rushed to douse the flames and assist the victims, some of whom suffered severe burns.
Another witness, Brooke Coffman, recalled seeing women rolling on the ground after their burning clothes were stripped off to treat "really bad burns all up on their legs." She also described a woman screaming with leg burns and another whose face was so badly burned it was barely recognizable. One victim even had her hair burned off.
Street performer Peter Irish called the aftermath "chaos," saying, "I saw people writhing on the ground. It was traumatic to watch, to be honest with you. It was chaos." Irish lamented the changes in Boulder, noting that "Pearl Street has changed. It's dirtier than it used to be. It's not as safe as it used to be."
The attack occurred at 1:26 p.m. local time outside the historic Boulder County Courthouse at 13th Street and Pearl Street, where marchers had gathered to raise awareness for hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for over 600 days. The victims included four women and four men, ranging in age from 52 to 88. One victim, a Holocaust refugee aged 88, was seriously injured and in critical condition. Another victim is a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.
UCHealth confirmed that two victims were airlifted to its burn unit, while four others were taken to Boulder Community Health. By Sunday night, these patients had either been transferred or discharged. The visible burn scars in front of the courthouse stood as grim reminders of the violence.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed the suspect was taken into custody without further incident and transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The FBI conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity related to the attack in El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located.
Witnesses reported hearing the suspect yelling "free Palestine" and "End Zionist!" during the attack. A video surfaced showing Soliman arguing with pro-Israeli demonstrators and locals at Pearl Street, holding bottles resembling Molotov cocktails. In the video, he was heard saying, "I can, I can," and pointing to a group, stating, "They're jealous." Police have not officially confirmed all details but are actively investigating the motives behind the attack.
The "Run For Their Lives" group, which organized the weekly peaceful marches since Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack, emphasized that Sunday's event was not a protest but a solidarity walk for the hostages and their families. Approximately 30 people participated in the march, which included stops to sing songs, tell stories, and read the names of hostages still held in Gaza.
Omer Shachar, co-leader of Run For Their Lives Denver, revealed that the group had reached out to Boulder police multiple times before Sunday's event to express security concerns. Despite these efforts, the attack occurred, leaving the community shaken.
FBI Director Kash Patel labeled the incident a "targeted terror attack," and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that all necessary resources were committed to the investigation. Patel posted on social media, "Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available." Bongino warned, "If you aided or abetted this attack, we will find you. You cannot hide."
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that the National Counterterrorism Center is working closely with the FBI and local law enforcement to investigate the attack on the Jewish community gathering.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is Jewish, condemned the attack as a "heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community" and an "antisemitic attack here in Boulder, on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot." He called for the suspect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and emphasized that hate has no place in Colorado.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the attack, stating the victims were targeted "simply because they were Jews" and expressed confidence in U.S. authorities to prosecute the perpetrator fully.
The University of Colorado system President Todd Saliman extended his sympathies to the victims and their families, condemning the hateful act of violence and emphasizing the need for community support.
The Boulder Jewish community issued a joint statement expressing heartbreak and sadness over the attack, assuring close coordination with law enforcement and emphasizing safety as a top priority. They called for unity and strength in the face of such violence.
Attorney General Phil Weiser denounced the attack, describing it as a hate crime and offering support to the victims. He stressed that while people may have differing views on world events, violence is never the answer and must be fully prosecuted.
As the community grapples with the aftermath, Alexandra Posnock, a local Jewish resident, voiced her horror but also her resolve: "It makes me more motivated to come out next week and do this again. Because that's what they want. They want us to hide and we're not going to hide."
The attack on a peaceful march meant to raise awareness and solidarity for hostages held in Gaza has left Boulder reeling but resolute in condemning hate and standing together.
