Boulder Attack Suspect Denied Handgun, Permit by Colorado Bureau

Mohamed Soliman, the suspect in a Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, attempted to purchase a handgun in November 2024 but was denied after a background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's InstaCheck system. His application for a concealed handgun permit was also denied in December 2024. Authorities acknowledged that the denials could have been based on his immigration status, as Soliman is an Egyptian national who had been in the U.S. on an expired visa and had a pending asylum case. Following the attack, Soliman admitted to using Molotov cocktails because he was unable to legally purchase a firearm and expressed intent to kill Zionist individuals, stating he would carry out the attack again. He was arrested along with his wife and five children, who were taken into ICE custody and are subject to expedited removal. Soliman faces multiple state and federal charges, including federal hate crime and attempted first-degree murder charges related to the attack on pro-Israel demonstrators.