Just weeks before a firebomb assault rocked Boulder, 18-year-old Habiba Soliman had written about her excitement and gratitude for living in the United States. In a scholarship essay, she spoke of her aspirations to become a doctor—an ambition she couldn’t pursue while growing up in Kuwait due to gender-based restrictions.
The Soliman family, originally from Egypt, moved to Colorado Springs in 2022 specifically to help Habiba chase her academic dreams. But that dream quickly turned into a nightmare on June 1, when her father, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly launched a brutal firebomb attack on a pro-Israel march using Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower.
Twelve people were injured in the attack, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. Officials say Soliman had been planning the act for over a year and intentionally waited until after his daughter’s graduation to act. He reportedly attempted to buy firearms but was denied due to his immigration status, ultimately resorting to handmade incendiary devices.
Following his arrest, Soliman allegedly expressed zero remorse and declared that he would repeat the act if released. His wife and five children were taken into custody by immigration authorities. Their visas were revoked, and they now face expedited removal proceedings.
Though Soliman claimed his family knew nothing of the plot, investigators are still examining whether any members were aware or complicit. The case has fueled renewed discussions on immigration security, extremism, and the devastating consequences of radicalization within families seeking a better life.