8 Injured in Flamethrower Attack During Pro-Israeli Vigil

(LibertySociety.com) – Egyptian Visa Overstayer Faces 118 Charges After Firebombing Pro-Israel Vigil in Boulder, Prompting Nationwide Visa Crackdown.

Key Takeaways

• Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, attacked a pro-Israel hostage vigil with a makeshift flamethrower, injuring eight people.
• Soliman faces 118 state charges including 28 counts of attempted murder, plus federal hate crime charges, with a $10 million bond.
• The attack prompted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to order a nationwide crackdown on visa overstays and enhanced deportation measures.
• Soliman entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2022 that expired in 2023, then received a temporary work permit through an asylum application that also expired.
• The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution condemning the attack as antisemitic terrorism.

Terror on Pearl Street Mall

On June 1, 2025, Boulder’s peaceful Pearl Street Mall erupted in chaos when Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman launched a vicious attack on participants of a pro-Israeli hostage vigil. Armed with a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary devices, Soliman targeted members of “Run For Their Lives,” a group advocating for Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Witnesses reported hearing him shout “Free Palestine” while unleashing flames on innocent civilians gathered for their weekly demonstration, leaving eight people injured, including two who suffered severe burns requiring airlift to specialized burn units.

Boulder Police demonstrated remarkable efficiency, apprehending Soliman within six minutes of the attack. The FBI’s Denver office immediately classified the incident as domestic terrorism, launching a comprehensive investigation in partnership with local authorities. “The FBI is committed to investigating this matter as an act of domestic terrorism,” stated the agency in its official release, emphasizing the ideological motivation behind the violence that has shocked the typically tranquil college town.

Immigration Failures Exposed

The attack has exposed critical failures in America’s immigration enforcement system. Soliman entered the United States legally on a tourist visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023. After his visa expired, he filed an asylum application and received a temporary work permit. However, by March 2023, both his legal status and work authorization had expired, yet he remained in the country undetected for over two years before committing the terrorist attack.

Following the attack, Homeland Security officials detained Soliman’s wife and five children as part of their investigation into potential complicity. This case represents exactly the type of immigration enforcement failure that conservatives have been warning about for years – individuals entering legally but staying illegally, then exploiting asylum processes to remain in the country despite having no legitimate claim to protection. The system’s inability to track and remove visa overstayers has created a dangerous security vulnerability that was tragically exploited in Boulder.

Legal Consequences Mount

The legal consequences for Soliman are appropriately severe. At the state level, prosecutors have filed a staggering 118 charges, including 28 counts of attempted murder – 14 of which specify “extreme indifference” – along with multiple assault charges and explosives-related felonies. The judge set bond at $10 million, recognizing the extreme danger Soliman poses to the community. These state charges alone could result in multiple life sentences if convicted.

Federal prosecutors have added hate crime charges under U.S. Code § 249, with the Department of Justice specifically citing the antisemitic nature of the attack. Additional federal terrorism charges are expected as the investigation continues. The dual prosecution at both state and federal levels ensures that Soliman will face the maximum legal consequences for his actions, with no possibility of escaping justice through technicalities or jurisdictional issues.

Policy Response and Crackdown

In a decisive response that many conservatives have long advocated for, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered an immediate nationwide crackdown on visa overstays. “This attack demonstrates the critical importance of enforcing our immigration laws,” Noem stated in announcing the new measures. “When individuals violate the terms of their admission to the United States, they must face consequences.” The comprehensive enforcement initiative includes enhanced coordination between Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The new policy directs immigration authorities to prioritize tracking and removing individuals who have overstayed visas, with expedited deportation proceedings for those found in violation. This represents a significant shift from the previous administration’s lax enforcement policies that allowed millions of visa overstayers to remain in the country indefinitely. Conservative immigration advocates have praised the move as long overdue, noting that approximately 40% of illegal immigrants in America are visa overstayers rather than border crossers.

Bipartisan Condemnation

In a rare display of unity in today’s polarized political climate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution condemning the Boulder attack as antisemitic terrorism. Congressman Gabe Evans spearheaded the effort, bringing together legislators from both parties to denounce the violence and express solidarity with the Jewish community. The resolution specifically acknowledged the targeting of pro-Israel advocates and recognized the broader pattern of increasing antisemitic incidents across the country.

While the resolution represents a positive step, many conservative commentators have noted that it doesn’t address the underlying policy failures that allowed Soliman to remain in the country illegally for years. The attack highlights the real-world consequences of lax immigration enforcement and the dangers of politicizing national security issues. As investigations continue into Soliman’s radicalization and potential connections to broader extremist networks, Americans are left wondering how many more potential terrorists are currently in the country due to similar immigration enforcement failures.

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