Federal authorities have charged 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman with a hate crime following a violent attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, that injured eight people. The incident, which involved the use of Molotov cocktails, is being described by the FBI as a “targeted terror attack.”

The attack occurred Sunday on Pearl Street, where the group “Run for Their Lives” had gathered to demand the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Witnesses say Soliman threw incendiary devices into the crowd while shouting “Free Palestine!”

🚨 #BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Boulder attacker Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 42, was in the country ILLEGALLY, a senior US official confirmed to me

He’s an Egyptian national who arrived during the Biden administration on a B-2 visa and never returned home.

NEVER SHOULD’VE BEEN ALLOWED IN… pic.twitter.com/8B4qyxuA1j

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 2, 2025

According to a federal criminal complaint, Soliman “threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in a pro-Israel gathering near the Boulder Courthouse.” The crowd included older adults, with victims ranging in age from 52 to 88. One person remains in critical condition, but as of Monday, no fatalities have been reported, according to Fox News.

The federal hate crime charge is based on the actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin of the victims. In addition to the federal charge, Soliman faces multiple state charges, including first-degree murder, assault, and use of explosives during a felony. He has also been charged with crimes against at-risk adults and attempted commission of other serious felonies.

Boulder police responded to the scene after receiving 911 calls about a man using fire to attack people. During the arrest, officers found Soliman near a black plastic container that held “at least fourteen unlit Molotov cocktails,” each made with either a wine bottle or Ball jar filled with gasoline and stuffed with red rags. Nearby, authorities also discovered a weed sprayer believed to contain a flammable liquid.

BREAKING: Boulder terror suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman is an illegal immigrant from Egypt who entered the US under the Biden administration, three sources say pic.twitter.com/IONgzFBdgZ

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 2, 2025

Field tests confirmed the liquid in the containers and sprayer was 87-octane gasoline containing xylene. A vehicle linked to Soliman contained additional red rags matching those used in the Molotov cocktails, a red gas can, and papers referencing “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.”

During a post-arrest interview with investigators, Soliman allegedly admitted to planning the attack for a year. According to the complaint, he said he “wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.” He further stated, “he would do it…again.” Authorities say Soliman researched how to make Molotov cocktails on YouTube, purchased the materials, and constructed the devices in advance.

“He specifically targeted the ‘Zionist Group’ that had gathered in Boulder,” the complaint reads. Soliman reportedly learned about the group’s meeting through an online search and arrived at the location around 12:55 p.m., minutes before the scheduled 1 p.m. start. “He stated that he hated the Zionist group and did this because he hated this group and needed to stop them from taking over ‘our land,’” according to the federal affidavit.

Officials say Soliman delayed the attack until after his daughter’s graduation.

Boulder police plan to provide more information at a press conference later Monday.