Federal Officials Give Update After Attack In Colorado
In a chilling reminder of how ideological violence can strike at the heart of peaceful assembly, a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, was violently disrupted on Sunday when a man, reportedly shouting “Free Palestine” and “End Zionist,” attacked demonstrators with a makeshift flamethrower and an incendiary device.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is now in federal custody, and the FBI has classified the incident as an act of ideologically motivated terrorism.
But as the facts unravel, the attack exposes a deeper crisis—one that involves national security lapses, immigration policy, and the intersection of radical ideology with bureaucratic failure.
The peaceful gathering was aimed at raising awareness for Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. That peace was shattered when Soliman reportedly ignited a homemade incendiary weapon and launched it into the crowd, resulting in burn injuries to at least six individuals, according to FBI sources. First responders described scenes of panic, with victims bearing injuries “consistent with burns and other trauma.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was unequivocal in his assessment: “We are investigating this incident as an act of terror, and targeted violence.” He added a stern warning to any potential accomplices: “If you aided or abetted this attack, we will find you. You cannot hide.”
Soliman, an Egyptian national, is said to have entered the U.S. in August 2022 under a legal visa. That visa, however, expired in February 2023. Despite this, and under the purview of current immigration policies, he was granted work authorization by the Biden administration. That authorization lapsed in March 2025—yet he remained in the country.
Homeland Security sources confirm that Soliman filed an unspecified claim with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. While the details of that claim remain undisclosed, it raises critical questions about the rigor of vetting processes and ongoing monitoring of visa overstays.
This case is already inflaming the immigration debate. Soliman’s presence in the country—over a year after his visa expired—highlights the challenges U.S. immigration authorities face in tracking and enforcing visa compliance. It also puts a spotlight on the broader national security implications of administrative leniency in the visa system.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has confirmed the involvement of the National Counterterrorism Center in the ongoing investigation. The collaboration between federal agencies underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating this event.