Full Breakdown
Firebomb Attack on Pro-Israel Demonstrators in Boulder
5/5/2026, 3:08:34 AM
Firebomb Attack on Pro-Israel Demonstrators in Boulder
On June 1, 2026, Mohamed Sabry Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails into a pro-Israel demonstration on Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. The demonstration draws about 20 participants supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza. The blast injured 13 people, killed an 82-year-old woman, and wounded a dog. State prosecutors identified 29 victims.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman
Soliman is an Egyptian national who entered the United States illegally after moving from Kuwait in 2022. He lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Colorado Springs, worked jobs, and divorced his wife in April 2026. He planned the attack for a year, driven by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.”
Legal Proceedings
State prosecutors have filed dozens of charges, including murder, attempted murder and animal cruelty. Federal prosecutors allege hate-crime motives and consider the death penalty. Soliman carried more than two dozen Molotov cocktails but threw two. He will plead guilty to federal charges and accept life imprisonment without parole; state sentencing pending.
Official Statements & Responses
Shannon Carbone of 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said office is committed to justice in case. Soliman’s federal defense described the attack as “profoundly inconsistent” with his prior conduct and a “total shock to his family.” Police reported Soliman told investigators he became scared because he had never hurt anyone before. Federal prosecutors maintain victims were targeted for perceived or actual connection to Israel.
Criticism & Opposition
Defense lawyers argue Soliman’s motive—opposition to Zionism, a stance—does not meet legal definition of a hate crime under federal law. They contend labeling the act a hate crime mischaracterizes his motivation and could affect sentencing. This dispute creates conflict between state prosecutors, who treat incident as a hate-crime case, and defense, which emphasizes political nature of the motive.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
State prosecutors classify the attack as a hate-crime, citing the victims’ perceived connection to Israel. The defense argues the motive was political opposition to Zionism, not a hate crime, making federal hate-crime charge inappropriate. No forensic details on Molotov cocktails have been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “From the very first day, our office has been committed to fighting for justice in this case,” — Shannon Carbone, 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
- “Free Palestine!” — Mohamed Sabry Soliman (yelling during the attack)
- “ Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before.” — Police report
What’s Next
A court will consider Soliman’s guilty plea to federal charges this week. If accepted, he faces life without parole; state prosecutors may still pursue death penalty. Sentencing hearings are expected after federal plea resolution.
