Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the 45-year-old Egyptian man the FBI says committed a "targeted act of terrorism" Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, against supporters calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, has been confirmed to be in the country illegally.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said that Soliman entered the country in August 2022 with a B2 tourist visa. Media reports say he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, and, according to the DHS official, filed for asylum one month later.
White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller says Soliman "was granted a tourist visa by the Biden Administration and then he illegally overstayed that visa. In response, the Biden Administration gave him a work permit."
Fox News reported that Soliman's work permit expired in March of this year, after which he remained in the US illegally once again
Witnesses say Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower and what appeared to be Molotov cocktails to firebomb a group of peaceful protesters, yelling “Free Palestine” during the attack, which occurred on the first day of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
Eyewitness @BHflyer5, who captured the image of the suspect at the top of this article, said on x.com that he and other bystanders did what they could to aid the victims: “All we could do was pour water over them from the fountain at the courthouse while they were in agony waiting for the police and paramedics to arrive,” he said.
Another man who posted images of Soliman's arrest to x.com said the terror attack on Boulder's open-air Pearl Street Mall was "a terrible thing to happen in a place we love to visit so often. I hope everyone pulls through. My family literally saw skin melting off of a guy’s leg."
The FBI initially said eight people, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were injured and taken to the hospital. However, USA Today later reported “a total of 12 people were burned in the incident. Authorities previously said there were eight victims, but four more came forward, (Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn) announced.”
USA Today, quoting from a law-enforcement affidavit, reported Soliman told police he "wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead," the affidavit said. It continued: "(Soliman) stated that he hated the 'Zionist group' and did this because he hated this group and needed to stop them from taking over 'our land,' which he explained to be Palestine."
USA Today also reported that he told investigators he planned the assault for a year and "was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack," the affidavit said.
"One of the victims of the Boulder attack was a Holocaust survivor," US Justice Department Official Leo Terrell said on x.com
"She endured the worst evil in human history. She came to America seeking safety. And now, decades later, she’s victimized again by a terrorist screaming ‘Free Palestine’. Holocaust survivors should not spend the final chapter of their lives experiencing or witnessing this hatred again. We must fight this terror together ... before more lives are lost." -Leo Terrell, US Justice Department Senior Counsel for Civil Rights
President Trump blamed the attack on "Biden's ridiculous Open Border Policy:"
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Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Thanks for the read Jack. A dreadful act - but fortunate it wasn't any worse.
While I hate the idea of criminal American citizens being deported to foreign prisons [as Trump floated a few weeks ago], I LOVE the idea of foreign interlopers being sent to detention in places like El Salvador. Although I don't like the fact that some apparently innocent people have been sent there, and ICE still pretends like they never make mistakes. Moderation would be nice...