Boulder Terrorist Allegedly Overstayed Visa Before Receiving Work Permit from Biden Administration
Mohamed Sabry Soliman's work permit, issued during the Biden era, had expired at the time of the alleged Boulder terror attack.
The suspect at the center of a violent firebombing attack on peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national whose legal immigration status had lapsed earlier this year. According to federal officials, Soliman entered the United States in August 2022 on a visa that expired in February 2023. After applying for asylum within the country, he was issued a work permit in March 2023 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This permit, however, expired this past March, leaving Soliman in the country without legal status at the time of the incident.
The attack unfolded on Sunday afternoon at a bustling outdoor mall in Boulder, where a group of pro-Israel activists—many from the local Jewish community—had gathered for a weekly event called "Run for Their Lives." The event, organized to show support for hostages held in Gaza, was interrupted when Soliman allegedly approached the group with a makeshift flamethrower. Witnesses and law enforcement report that he shouted "Free Palestine" while launching flames at the crowd, leaving eight adults, including elderly individuals up to 88 years old, with serious burn injuries. Several victims required hospitalization, adding to rising concerns about attacks targeting Jewish communities across the nation.
Federal investigators have described the assault as a possible act of terrorism, citing the targeted nature of the attack and Soliman’s rhetoric. Among those injured was a Holocaust survivor, an individual who had escaped some of history’s worst atrocities only to fall victim to fresh violence decades later in America. "She endured the worst evil in human history," a senior Department of Justice official stated, emphasizing the particular trauma faced by survivors of such historic suffering.
Soliman is currently being detained at the Boulder County Jail and faces a series of felony charges, including attempted murder, crimes against at-risk and elderly adults, use of incendiary devices, and assault. Federal authorities are also reviewing the case for potential terrorism-related and immigration violations, potentially escalating the seriousness of the charges against him.
The Department of Justice has pledged a thorough investigation, working in concert with local and federal law enforcement agencies. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by this needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans," a DOJ spokesperson stated. Authorities underscored their commitment to pursuing those responsible for hate-fueled violence to the fullest extent of the law, vowing justice for the victims and a diligent inquiry into how the attack could occur.
This incident has stoked renewed debate over immigration policy and community safety, particularly surrounding the vetting process for asylum seekers and the oversight of expired visas and permits. As the investigation proceeds, both local leaders and national officials are urging calm and solidarity, while promising continued support for those recovering from the trauma of the attack.
