What began as a peaceful walk in Boulder, Colorado, to raise awareness for hostages held in Gaza turned into a shocking act of violence on Sunday, June 1. A man reportedly launched a targeted attack on demonstrators, injuring eight people—many of them elderly, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor.
The walk was organized by the group Run For Their Lives, which has held similar events across the country to bring attention to Israeli hostages believed to be held by Hamas. Witnesses say the attacker approached the group with incendiary devices, including what appeared to be a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails. He allegedly shouted politically charged statements during the assault.
The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was taken into custody at the scene after suffering minor injuries. Authorities confirmed that he had overstayed a visa and was living in the U.S. unlawfully. He is now facing a list of serious charges, including multiple counts of attempted murder and the unlawful use of explosives.
Law enforcement officials are treating the case as a targeted act of terrorism. The investigation is still underway as federal and local agencies work to uncover any additional motives or connections.
The attack has left the local Jewish community—and the broader public—shaken. It also comes amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. In 2023, nearly 2,000 anti-Jewish hate crimes were reported to the FBI.
Community leaders have called for unity and increased vigilance against hate-fueled violence. As the victims begin the road to recovery, the message is clear: such acts of hate cannot be tolerated.
