A Molotov cocktail attack left eight people injured during a rally in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, held this Sunday (1st) in Boulder, Colorado, in the United States.
The information was reported by The New York Times, which confirmed that the attacker was identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian citizen who was in the country illegally.
According to the FBI, the suspect had been planning the attack for a year and acted alone. He reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” before hurling two incendiary devices at protesters participating in the event known as Run for Their Lives, which is held weekly in various cities around the world. The march aims to draw attention to Israeli civilians kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.
Eight people aged 52 to 88 — four men and four women — suffered burns and other injuries. According to local authorities, two victims in serious condition had to be airlifted by helicopter to a specialized burn center in Denver. No deaths have been reported so far.
Mohamed Soliman, 45, was arrested shortly after the attack, identified by witnesses. A video verified by Storyful agency shows the suspect, shirtless and holding two bottles, shouting as patches of grass burned in front of the city forum. Amid the panic, bystanders tried to aid the injured and extinguish the flames with improvised clothing.
During interrogation, Soliman told investigators that he wanted to “kill all the Zionists” and that “he wanted them all dead,” according to a excerpt from the testimony included in the FBI report. He also stated that his motivation was to prevent the group from “taking our land,” referring to Palestine.
Authorities found with him a gasoline can, at least 14 ready-to-use Molotov cocktails — made with wine bottles and mason jars — and a pesticide sprayer adapted to spread fuel.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Soliman had entered the country legally in August 2022 on a tourist visa but stayed beyond the allowed period, which expired in February 2023. He had applied for political asylum in September of that year. He currently lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children.
Despite initial charges including two counts of first-degree murder, local authorities have not yet clarified the reasons for these accusations, as no deaths were recorded. Soliman remains detained in Boulder County jail, with bail set at $10 million.
The institutional response was firm. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attack was carried out “in cold blood” and demanded that the perpetrator be tried “with the full force of the law.” For him, the incident “was an antisemitic attack against peaceful people demonstrating solidarity with the Hamas hostages, simply for being Jewish.”
Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett also condemned the attack: “These Jewish community members were marching for peace and the release of the hostages, and they were brutally attacked. It is repulsive and revolting.”
There are no indications so far that Soliman was linked to extremist groups or political organizations, according to Mark D. Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver office.
Source: www.brasil247.com