Shock and outrage erupted in Boulder, Colorado, as authorities identified Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, as the suspect behind a violent attack at the city’s Park Street Mall. Soliman’s immigration status and the brutal nature of the incident have triggered heated debate, with political leaders and community members demanding answers.
According to Breitbart, Department of Homeland Security officials revealed that Soliman is an illegal alien who entered the United States during the Biden administration and overstayed his visa. The Department confirmed Soliman arrived in August 2022 on a temporary visa, filed a claim with immigration authorities the next month, and received work authorization lasting until March 2025.
Law enforcement says Soliman targeted a peaceful pro-Israel walk, reportedly using a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary device, seriously injuring several elderly attendees. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism motivated by antisemitism, while local leaders have condemned the attack and urged for swift justice.
Federal officials quickly identified Mohamed Sabry Soliman after the attack, sparking immediate questions about how he remained in the country. Fox News’s Bill Melugin cited three senior DHS sources, confirming Soliman landed at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2022 on a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa, which allowed him to stay until February 2023. Despite the expiration, Soliman did not leave the United States.
The same sources indicated that Soliman filed a claim with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (likely an asylum request) in September 2022. In March 2023, he was granted work authorization, which expired in March 2025. This timeline shows Soliman was present in the U.S. well beyond the limits of his original visa—a fact critics say demonstrates serious flaws in the current immigration system.
Conservative lawmakers and commentators argue this case is an indictment of President Biden’s immigration policies. They assert that lax enforcement and prolonged processing times create opportunities for dangerous individuals to slip through the cracks, putting American communities at risk.
The attack unfolded during a regularly scheduled pro-Israel walk, with witnesses reporting chaos as Soliman allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails against the crowd. FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek said six victims, aged 67 to 88, were hospitalized with burns, painting a harrowing scene of violence at what was intended to be a peaceful event.
Witnesses described Soliman yelling “Free Palestine” and “end Zionists” as he carried out the assault. Social media videos captured the suspect’s shouts, adding fuel to investigators’ conclusion that the attack was motivated by antisemitism. The FBI quickly classified the incident as a targeted act of terrorism.
Rick Holter, a bystander, told Colorado Public Radio that he saw a shirtless man with squirt bottles yelling as police arrived, while another witness described seeing a woman “burning on the ground” and others suffering burns to their legs. The attack has left the Boulder community deeply shaken, with many struggling to process the violence.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a statement strongly condemning the attack and standing with the Jewish community. Polis called the assault “heinous and targeted,” noting it comes as Jewish Coloradans are still grappling with recent antisemitic violence in Washington, D.C.
Polis said:
My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured by this heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community. Boulder is strong. We have overcome tragedies together and will get through this together as a community. I’ve spoken with Boulder Mayor Brockett, and my administration is working closely with local and federal law enforcement on this afternoon’s attack.
Local officials and Jewish leaders echoed these sentiments, demanding the suspect be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Conservative voices have seized on the attack as evidence of the urgent need for immigration reform, arguing the current system allows dangerous individuals to remain in the country unchecked.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the Egyptian national accused of carrying out the Park Street Mall attack, now faces investigation on terrorism charges after allegedly targeting a peaceful Jewish gathering with fire and incendiary devices. Six people were hospitalized, and the city has been left reeling from the trauma.
Authorities are working to establish Soliman’s motives and any possible connections to extremist groups while the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement coordinate their investigation. As the case moves forward, leaders promise a thorough prosecution and renewed focus on tightening immigration laws.
The Boulder attack has become a rallying point for those demanding stronger immigration enforcement and increased public safety measures. As the investigation continues, the city’s residents—and the nation—await answers and accountability.
