MxM News

Quick Hit:

The suspect accused of launching a fiery antisemitic attack during a pro-Israel event in Boulder, Colorado, is reportedly an Egyptian national who entered the U.S. on a visa under the Biden administration and never left.

Key Details:

• Fox News’ Bill Melugin, citing three senior DHS officials, reported that the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, entered the U.S. on August 27th, 2022, on a B1/B2 tourist visa, which expired in February 2023. He overstayed and remained in the country illegally.

• On September 29th, 2022, Soliman reportedly filed a claim with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—possibly an asylum request—and was granted work authorization in March 2023. That work permit expired in March of this year.

• FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek confirmed that six elderly individuals were hospitalized with burn injuries after Soliman allegedly hurled incendiary devices and used a makeshift flamethrower while yelling “Free Palestine” during the attack.

Diving Deeper:

Federal immigration officials have identified the man behind Sunday’s targeted attack at Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, as an Egyptian national who was in the United States illegally, according to reporting from Fox News’ Bill Melugin. The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, reportedly entered the country through Los Angeles International Airport on August 27th, 2022, using a B1/B2 tourist visa that expired in February 2023.

Citing three senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security, Melugin reported that Soliman never left the country after his visa lapsed. Instead, he filed a claim with USCIS—believed to be an asylum request—and was granted a work permit by the Biden administration in March 2023. That work authorization expired this past March.

The immigration details emerged hours after the FBI publicly named Soliman as the suspect in what it has now classified as a terror attack. FBI Denver Special Agent Mark Michalek said Soliman targeted participants of a peaceful weekly pro-Israel gathering with a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary device, injuring six victims aged 67 to 88.

“This attack happened at a regularly scheduled weekly peaceful event,” Michalek said during a press conference. “Witnesses are reporting that the subject used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd. The suspect was heard to yell, ‘Free Palestine’ during the attack.”

Michalek confirmed the agency is treating the incident as a terror-related act. “Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country,” he added. “This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across our nation.”

Video from the scene appears to show Soliman shouting phrases like “end Zionists” and “Palestine is free” before the attack. Witnesses said victims were part of a walk organized to draw attention to Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the assault, calling it a “heinous and targeted act” against the Jewish community. “My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured,” Polis said Sunday evening. “Several individuals were brutally attacked while peacefully drawing attention to the plight of hostages… Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all, and I condemn this act of terror. The suspect should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”