In Boulder, Colorado, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman threw Molotov cocktails at a peaceful protest supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza, injuring six people. Witnesses reported that he shouted “Free Palestine” before launching the homemade incendiary devices. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.

Videos from the scene showed the suspect shirtless, holding a glass bottle, and injured himself. Panic broke out as protesters fled. A witness described multiple women with burn injuries, one of them severely affected.

What Is a Molotov Cocktail?

A Molotov cocktail is a simple, improvised incendiary weapon created using a glass bottle filled with a flammable substance and fitted with a cloth wick. Once ignited and thrown, it shatters on impact, spreading fire instantly.

The term was coined during the Winter War (1939–1940) by the Finns, who mockingly named it after Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, turning his propaganda into a symbol of resistance. Since then, it has become a global symbol of resistance, used in various uprisings and protests, including those in Palestine, the U.S., and Hong Kong.