A quiet Sunday in Boulder shattered when a man posing as a landscaper unleashed chaos. But what authorities discovered after the flames faded was even more disturbing.
The man behind the attack was 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman. What began as a calculated infiltration turned into a fiery assault that injured a dozen people and exposed a chilling plan of hate and violence that could have ended much worse—if fear hadn’t pulled the hand back.
A Disguise with Deadly Intent
It was just past noon on June 1, and the demonstration was as routine as any before it. About 20 people had gathered at Boulder’s popular outdoor mall to demand the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. What they didn’t know was that someone had been watching them for weeks.
Mohamed Soliman, according to Boulder police, had been pretending to be a gardener—wearing overalls, carrying clippers, keeping a low profile.
That cover gave him access. It gave him time.
It also gave him a way to get close—too close.
A Backpack Full of Fire and a Plan Fueled by Hate
When officers took Soliman into custody, they found a disturbing collection: 18 homemade Molotov cocktails, gasoline in a backpack sprayer, and a makeshift flamethrower.
But he only used two of those devices.
Why? That’s where things get complicated. In his statements to police, Soliman admitted he wanted to kill “as many Zionists as possible.” But something in the moment made him stop short. He threw two Molotovs, shouted “Free Palestine,” and accidentally lit himself on fire.
Investigators say he then dropped everything. He didn’t activate the backpack sprayer, though he admitted he had planned to. “I was supposed to die,” Soliman reportedly told officers.
One sentence. That’s all he said about his survival.
Details from Court Reveal the Attack Was Weeks in the Making
Authorities believe Soliman acted alone but had been plotting for more than a month. The timing, the materials, and even the fake identity were part of an intentional strategy.
Here’s what court records now show:
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Soliman had been attending the group’s Sunday protests for weeks without raising suspicion.
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He began collecting bottles and flammable liquids in mid-May.
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His Google searches reportedly included: “how to build flamethrower,” “Israeli protest Boulder,” and “Molotov legal consequences USA.”
Officers say it’s a miracle the entire group wasn’t burned alive.
Police Paint a Picture of Intent, Hesitation, and Extremism
Police Chief Maris Herder called the act “an attempted mass killing grounded in extreme hate.”
Soliman has no known criminal history. Born in Egypt, he came to the U.S. legally two decades ago and worked intermittently in landscaping and electrical repair. No prior red flags.
But Boulder PD spokesperson Erin Ramirez said something had changed in him. Soliman had become increasingly isolated over the past year, according to neighbors.
“He kept to himself. We thought he was just quiet,” one tenant said.
Soliman’s arrest affidavit included notes scribbled on receipts and takeout bags. Some read, “They kill my people,” and “Burn the oppressors.”
That emotional spiral—paranoia, rage, radicalization—culminated last Sunday.
The Aftermath: Twelve Injured, One Community Shaken
The impact was fast and brutal. Two of the protestors suffered third-degree burns. One woman is still in the ICU with damage to her lungs from smoke inhalation.
Another man, 68 years old, dove to cover a teenager—both suffered shrapnel burns from the glass bottles that exploded on impact.
Only one person had minor injuries.
Investigators say the damage could’ve been much worse if the entire arsenal had been deployed.
Hate Speech, Terror Charges, and a Deeper Legal Storm Brewing
Soliman now faces multiple felony charges. These include attempted murder, arson, use of incendiary devices, and committing an act of terrorism. More charges could be added under federal hate crime statutes.
Federal prosecutors have joined the case, citing the targeting of a group based on perceived religious or national identity.
Authorities are also trying to trace whether Soliman had any digital ties to extremist groups. So far, they haven’t found any, but cyber forensics are still ongoing.
Prosecutor Layla Henderson said, “This was not a protest. This was not free speech. This was premeditated terror against civilians.”
Boulder Tries to Heal as Investigators Stay on High Alert
Boulder isn’t new to violence—this is the same city still reeling from the 2021 grocery store mass shooting.
“It wasn’t random. It was us. That makes it personal,” said Noah Abramson, one of the protest organizers.
City officials have increased patrols at public gatherings. Mental health counselors have been deployed to support both victims and traumatized onlookers.
Residents are holding candlelight vigils. Others are simply afraid.
“This kind of thing isn’t supposed to happen here,” one mother of two whispered outside a pharmacy, glancing over her shoulder.
And now, Boulder—like too many American cities—has another scar to live with.
