What we know about the Pearl Street attack in Colorado

Lauren Penington, The Denver Post on Jun 2, 2025

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BOULDER, Colo. — The man who attacked eight people Sunday afternoon on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to jail records. State and federal investigators have not confirmed publicly if any of the victims died from their injuries.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman was booked into Boulder County Jail late Sunday night on suspicion of seven felonies, including murder and assault, and is being held on a $10 million bond, according to jail records.

The victims were identified Sunday night as four men and four women between the ages of 52 and 88, according to Boulder police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Boulder officials said at least four victims were sent to the Boulder Community Health hospital on Sunday. The UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital’s burn unit was treating three patients Monday morning, according to spokeswoman Alli Witzman.

Updates on the victims’ conditions were not available Monday morning.

What happened during the Sunday attack?

The attack, which federal officials have characterized as a “targeted act of violence” and terrorism, happened at 1:26 p.m. on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall as the city’s chapter of Run for Their Lives arrived outside the Boulder County Historic Courthouse during their weekly demonstration walk.

Run for Their Lives is a national movement calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas.

Soliman threw an incendiary device into the crowd and used a “makeshift flamethrower” to light people on fire, federal officials said.

Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office, said Soliman yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack.

Police in Boulder evacuated multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall during the investigation. As of 7:30 a.m. Monday, the 1300 block remained closed, police said.

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