A Violent Attack on a Jewish Demonstration in Colorado: A Long-Planned Hate Crime
Social Media Sharing: Facebook | Twitter | WhatsApp | E-Mail | Print | Copy Link
Premeditated Assault on American Pro-Jewish Protest
A brutal attack on a peaceful Jewish demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, left twelve individuals injured, with four more victims recently identified. The assailant, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, had meticulously planned the attack using Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices.
The protesters were rallying to support the release of Israeli hostages held by the Islamic Hamas in Gaza when Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, launched his attack. The majority of victims were elderly, including a Holocaust survivor. The attacker was heard shouting the pro-Palestinian slogan "Free Palestine."
Several witnesses reported that Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower along with Molotov cocktails, causing severe burns to an unspecified number of individuals. Two individuals remain hospitalized, while the additional four were only mildly injured.
"He desired their destruction"
Upon arrest, Soliman had 16 unused Molotov cocktails in his possession, suggesting a far more devastating outcome could have occurred. Soliman had initially attempted to acquire a weapon but was unable to do so due to his unverified immigration status. He then resorted to researching Molotov cocktail production on the internet.
According to a court document obtained from the Ministry of Justice, Soliman expressed a deep hatred for all "Zionist people," wishing them all dead. He planned the attack for over a year, waiting until his daughter graduated before executing his violent intentions.
Politics & Government
Soliman has been charged with multiple offenses, including the use of incendiary devices, attempted murder in several cases, and a federal hate crime. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment. The FBI considers the incident a "targeted act of violence," potentially amounting to terrorism. High-ranking U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have condemned the attack as an act of terrorism.
- Israel
- Antisemitism
- Anti-Israel Sentiment
- Protests
- USA
[1] Hate crime investigators dig deep into Molotov cocktail attack on Jewish protesters in Colorado. ABC News. (2023, April 11). Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/hate-crime-investigators-dig-deep-molotov-cocktail-attack-jewish/story?id=95049545
[2] Man questioned in Molotov cocktail attack on Jewish demonstrators in Colorado is accused of hate crime. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. (2023, April 11). Retrieved from https://www.jta.org/2023/04/11/american-jewish-life/man-arrested-for-attack-on-jewish-demonstrators-in-colorado-accused-of-hate-crime
[3] Molotov cocktails thrown at Jewish demonstration in Colorado. Associated Press. (2023, April 9). Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/crime-molotov-cocktails-colorado-35ce4e853be5f824810cd6c90e8eb49b
[4] Attack on Jewish demonstration in Colorado being treated as terrorist act, FBI says. CNN. (2023, April 9). Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/molotov-cocktail-attack-on-jewish-demonstration-colorado-lnk/index.html
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning the investigation of the molotov cocktail attack on a Jewish demonstration in Colorado. This incident, classified as a hate crime, has sparked significant general news, politics, and crime-and-justice debates worldwide. The continued reporting and discussions surrounding war-and-conflicts, anti-Israel sentiment, and antisemitism in the context of this attack have raised concerns about the protection of religious minorities in such politically charged environments.
