Man charged with murder after 'petrol bomb' attack at pro-Israel rally
2 June 2025, 11:54 | Updated: 2 June 2025, 12:21
A man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder following an attack on a rally for Israeli hostages in Colorado.
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Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
However, authorities have not confirmed whether anyone has died in the incident.
Four women and four men aged between 52 and 88 were injured and taken to hospitals.
The man reportedly shouted "Free Palestine" in Boulder, Colorado, as he launched the attack at the rally, police said.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect lobbed Molotov cocktails, a homemade bomb constructed out of a bottle filled with petrol and stuffed with a piece of cloth to use as a fuse, into people attending the protest.
Soliman has also received one charge for "extreme indifference". Another relates to "deliberation with intent — nonfamily — gun."
He is also charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of first-degree assault, and one count of causing serious injury to an at-risk adult or someone over 70 and one count of using explosives or incendiary devices.
The FBI described the incident, which took place at Boulder Country Historic Courthouse, as a “targeted terror attack”.
At least eight people, some as old as 88 were injured in the incident.
Footage on social media shows a shirtless man holding bottles with cloth and clear liquid inside. Videos also show the man being detained at the scene.
Soliman is understood to be an Egyptian national who seemingly acted alone. Authorities said he has no previous significant contact with law enforcement.
Dan Bongino, a deputy director at the FBI, said: "We are investigating this incident as an act of terror, and targeted violence.
Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, called the incident "pure anti-semitism" on social media, adding that the attack is "terrorism" and demanding "concrete action".
He said: "Jewish protesters were brutally attacked. Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border- it is already burning the streets of America."
“From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted," Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser said.
The group of people attacked were said to be peacefully demonstrating to show solidarity for Israeli hostages in Gaza, organised by a group called 'Run for Their Lives'.
Weiser continued: “People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences."Hate has no place in Colorado.
”The Jewish community in Boulder released a statement condemning the attack.
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