Brace yourself for a story that cuts to the heart of border security and public safety: a horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, has left six elderly victims injured and a community shaken.
According to Breitbart News, a peaceful pro-Israel event at Park Street Mall in support of Hamas hostages was shattered when 45-year-old Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary device to injure six people, ages 67 to 88. The FBI is treating the attack as a targeted act of terrorism.
This wasn’t just a random outburst; it unfolded during a weekly event meant to draw attention to a humanitarian cause. Witnesses heard Soliman shouting phrases like "Free Palestine" and "end Zionists," as captured in social media videos. If that doesn’t send a chill down your spine about the state of public safety, what will?
Let’s rewind to how Soliman even got here. He entered the U.S. on a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa on August 27, 2022, at Los Angeles International Airport, with permission to stay until February 26, 2023. But, surprise, he didn’t leave when his time was up.
Instead, Soliman filed a claim with USCIS—possibly for asylum—on September 29, 2022. By March 29, 2023, under current administration policies, he was granted work authorization valid until March 28, 2025. Turns out, staying past your welcome sometimes comes with perks, but at what cost to communities like Boulder?
As reported by Bill Melugin, “I’m told Soliman arrived at LAX on 8/27/22 on a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa with an authorized stay through 2/26/23, but he overstayed & never left.” That’s a policy loophole you could drive a truck through. How many more overstays are out there, unchecked?
Fast forward to the attack itself, which struck on the eve of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, a time of reflection, not violence. The pro-Israel walk, described by a witness as a “religious protest,” was meant to be a quiet stand for hostages in Gaza. Instead, it became a scene of chaos.
Witnesses saw Soliman wield a makeshift flamethrower and hurl an incendiary device into the crowd. One account described a woman “burning on the ground,” and others with burns on their legs. It’s a gut punch to think of elderly victims, aged 67 to 88, targeted in such a brutal way.
Rick Holter, a bystander, recounted, “We watched as the police arrived a couple of minutes later and this guy, the shirtless guy, went down on the ground and was handcuffed and taken away then.” Quick action by law enforcement likely prevented worse, but the damage was already done.
The FBI isn’t mincing words, with Special Agent Mark Michalek stating, “As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence, and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism.” That’s not a label thrown around lightly. It signals a more serious threat to community safety.
Michalek also noted, “Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country.” When even the FBI sounds the alarm on rising violence, shouldn’t we question the policies that let unauthorized individuals slip through the cracks?
All six victims were rushed to local hospitals, their ages a stark reminder of who often bears the brunt of such hatred—our most vulnerable. The timing, right after antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., only deepens the wound for the Jewish community.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis didn’t hold back, declaring, “Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all, and I condemn this act of terror.” Strong words, but many will wonder if stronger borders might have prevented this tragedy. Actions, after all, speak louder than statements.
Polis added, “As the Jewish community reels from the recent antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., it is unfathomable that the community is facing another antisemitic attack here in Boulder on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot.”
It’s a sobering reminder of how targeted hatred persists. Will this spark real policy change or just more press releases?
