A 45-year-old Egyptian national who attacked a pro-Israel demonstration with Molotov cocktails in Boulder, Colorado—injuring 12 Americans including a Holocaust survivor—had been living illegally in the United States for nearly two years after his asylum work permit expired, exposing catastrophic failures in immigration enforcement that allowed a terrorist attack on American soil.
Story Snapshot
- Mohamed Soliman, 45, threw Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, injuring 12 people including a Holocaust survivor
- Soliman entered legally on a tourist visa in 2022 but remained illegally after his work permit expired in March 2023
- He faces 16 counts of attempted murder and federal hate crime charges with a potential sentence exceeding 350 years
- DHS detained Soliman’s entire family—six members including his spouse and children—for possible deportation while investigating their knowledge of the attack
- The attack underscores immigration system failures that allowed an undocumented individual to plan a year-long terrorist operation without detection
Failed Immigration System Enabled Terror Attack Planning
Mohamed Soliman entered the United States lawfully in August 2022 on a B2 tourist visa, then filed for asylum the following month. His tourist visa expired in February 2023, but he received a work permit that subsequently expired on March 28, 2023. For nearly two years after becoming undocumented, Soliman remained in the country undetected while meticulously planning his attack. This case exemplifies the broken asylum system that conservatives have long warned about—where individuals exploit legal entry points, then disappear into the country when their temporary status expires with virtually no enforcement consequences.
Premeditated Hate Crime Targeting American Citizens
Court documents reveal Soliman spent a year planning the attack on the “Run for Their Lives” demonstration, which advocated for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He researched Molotov cocktail construction on YouTube, purchased supplies from Target, and even took a concealed carry class attempting to obtain firearms. When denied gun purchases due to his non-citizen status, he pivoted to incendiary devices. Soliman constructed eight Molotov cocktails and carried 16 unused devices when arrested. He disguised himself as a gardener to approach the crowd before unleashing his attack, injuring eight people seriously enough to require hospitalization, with victims ranging from age 52 to 88.
Terrorist’s Own Words Reveal Murderous Intent
Soliman’s statements to investigators expose the depth of his hatred and premeditation. He told authorities he “wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,” though he claimed the attack “had nothing to do with the Jewish community” and targeted only those “supporting the killings of people on his land (Palestine).” The Department of Homeland Security characterized the attack as “unique due to both the targeting of people and the use of an improvised flamethrower in addition to improvised incendiary devices.” The FBI classified it as an act of terrorism. DHS expressed concern that attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict will continue inspiring violent extremists to mobilize within the United States.
Family Detention Raises Questions About Complicity
Following the attack, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that six of Soliman’s family members—including his spouse and five children—were taken into ICE custody and face expedited removal from the United States. DHS stated it was investigating “to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it.” FBI Denver Special Agent Mark Michalek said investigators believed Soliman acted alone and that the family was cooperative during a search warrant execution. However, he added that if evidence emerges showing others knew of or supported the attack, authorities would “aggressively move to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Legal Consequences and Immigration Enforcement Implications
Soliman faces 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of use of an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device at the state level, with a maximum potential sentence exceeding 350 years. He also faces federal hate crime charges. He was held on $10 million bond. This case starkly illustrates what conservatives have consistently warned about: the national security risks posed by inadequate immigration enforcement and an asylum system that allows individuals to remain in the country indefinitely after their legal status expires. The fact that Soliman lived undetected for two years while planning a terrorist attack demonstrates the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform that prioritizes enforcement, tracking of visa overstays, and consequences for those who violate immigration law.
Sources:
Boulder attack suspect was in US illegally: Homeland Security
Family of Colorado Attack Suspect in ICE Custody
