An Egyptian man who overstayed his U.S. visa has been charged in connection with a brutal terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, that left eight people injured during a peaceful pro-Israel rally.
Authorities say the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, carried out the attack with apparent ideological motivation, setting victims on fire while shouting anti-Israel slogans.
Attack Targets Jewish Demonstrators in Colorado
The attack occurred Sunday afternoon near the Boulder County Courthouse during an event organized by Run for Their Lives, a global grassroots group dedicated to advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the assailant used an incendiary device on rally participants ranging in age from 52 to 88.
Witnesses and video footage reviewed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Center on Extremism revealed Soliman shouting phrases like “Free Palestine” and “We have to end Zionists, they are killers.”
The suspect was immediately apprehended at the scene and booked into Boulder County Jail on multiple felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and use of explosives during a felony. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any of the victims succumbed to their injuries, though the charges indicate the severity of the attack.
Soliman Overstayed Visa, Received Work Permit Under Biden Administration
According to officials, Soliman entered the U.S. through Los Angeles International Airport on a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa on August 27, 2022.
He was authorized to remain until February 26, 2023, but failed to leave the country. Records show he filed a claim—possibly for asylum—later that year. On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted him a work permit valid through March 2025.
Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that Soliman’s visa overstay makes him unlawfully present in the U.S., further intensifying the political controversy surrounding lax immigration enforcement during the Biden administration.
Officials Condemn Hate-Fueled Violence as Terror Investigation Deepens
Federal and state officials are treating the attack as a hate crime and potential act of terrorism. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the assault is under investigation as “ideologically motivated violence.”
The National Counterterrorism Center and FBI Denver are also involved, with agents executing court-authorized activity at a location in El Paso County later Sunday.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated, “This appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted.” He emphasized that “violence is never the answer to settling differences,” a sentiment echoed by Governor Jared Polis, who condemned the incident as a “heinous act of terror.”
Weiser and Polis, both Jewish, were the first to be elected to statewide office in Colorado in 2018. Their response underscores the growing concerns over rising antisemitism across the country.
Community Leaders and Lawmakers Demand Action
Run for Their Lives called the attack a tragic escalation in what has otherwise been a peaceful, global advocacy effort. “We call on world leaders to do everything they can to ensure the swift return home of each of the 58 hostages,” the group said in a statement.
“We remain committed to our mission until ALL the HOSTAGES are returned back home.”
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, warned that terrorism against Jews is no longer limited to the Middle East. “It is already burning the streets of America,” he said. “This is not a political protest. This is terrorism.”
Other leaders, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse, condemned the attack and called for immediate action to confront rising antisemitism. “We must do more—now—to stop this violence,” Neguse wrote on X.
National Response to Heightened Security Threat
In response to the attack and the upcoming Jewish holiday of Shavuot, the New York Police Department increased patrols at religious sites, deploying high-visibility teams and heavy weapons units.
“We’re monitoring the horrific attack in Colorado,” officials said. “The NYPD will continue to track this closely.”
The attack follows the May 21 shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., further fueling fears that violent antisemitism is gaining traction inside the United States. Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Jim Berk pointed to the climate of anti-Israel rhetoric as the root cause.
“This nonstop demonization has created a climate where hate flourishes, and physical attacks—even murder—of Jews is inevitable,” he said.
