Neighbor remembers Boulder terrorism suspect as a devoted family man

The Boulder, Colorado, terrorist attack suspect’s neighbor called him a “really nice guy” and a family man.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, aged 45, has been charged with a federal hate crime, along with state charges including attempted first-degree murder, crimes against at-risk adults/elderly, assault, criminal attempt to commit class one and class two felonies, and use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony. These charges stem from an incident on Sunday that resulted in 12 people being injured.

Soliman is accused of throwing two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals who were taking part in a pro-Israel event near the Boulder Courthouse, according to federal court documents.

Upon learning about Soliman’s alleged actions, a neighbor, who requested anonymity, expressed surprise, stating to Fox News Digital, “Wow. He was a really nice guy. He was our neighbor.”

Soliman, 46, was charged with first-degree murder, crimes against at-risk adults/elderly, assault, criminal attempt to commit class one and class two felonies and use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony. (Boulder Police Department)

Soliman was married with five children, who played with other neighborhood children in Boulder.

“It’s surprising because you never know who’s living next to you.”

— Soliman’s neighbor

The suspect told authorities during an interview after the incident that “he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack,” the complaint states.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman is seen being taken into custody on Sunday, June 1. (@BHflyer5 via Storyful)

“They were really nice people,” the neighbor said. “Every time we were outside, they’d say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ They invited us over their house.”

Boulder, Colorado attack suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman is seen as he launched a fiery attack on demonstrators at an outdoor mall, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (Lisa Turnquist/AP Photo)

A federal complaint says Soliman “traveled to Boulder, Colorado, in his vehicle with the Molotov cocktails and threw two of the cocktails at individuals participating in a pro-Israel gathering,” the complaint states. “He also stated that he picked up gas at a gas station on the way to Boulder. He stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.

“He specifically targeted the ‘Zionist Group’ that had gathered in Boulder having learned about the group from an online search. SOLIMAN knew that they planned to meet… Sunday, June 1 at 1pm. He arrived at approximately 12:55 p.m. and waited for them. Throughout the interview, SOLIMAN 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,’ which he explained to be Palestine,” the complaint states.

The FBI raided Mohamed Soliman’s Colorado Springs home early Monday morning, June 2, 2025. (Fox News)

He also allegedly stated “he would do it…again.”

Soliman was booked into the Boulder County Jail on Sunday evening and remains held on a $10 million bond. 

Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Bill Melugin and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.