Boulder attack suspect pleads not guilty to federal hate crime charges
The man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of Colorado marchers advocating for the release of hostages being held in Gaza pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges on Friday.
Mohamed Soliman, 45, appeared in federal court in Denver for his arraignment after being indicted this week on a dozen federal charges in connection with the June 1 attack. He had previously been charged by complaint with a federal hate crime offense.
MORE: Suspect in Boulder attack charged with 118 counts, including attempted murder, assault charges
Prosecutors say Soliman ignited and threw two Molotov cocktails at the Run for Their Lives group during their Boulder walk, at one point shouting, "Free Palestine!"
During an interview with law enforcement, Soliman said he learned of the Run for Their Lives walk after searching for "Zionist" events online, according to the 12-count indictment.
A handwritten document recovered from his vehicle stated, "Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land" and described Israel as a 'cancer entity," according to the indictment.
He remains in federal custody.
MORE: Boulder attack latest: Judge blocks deportation of suspect's family
Soliman also faces 118 state charges in connection with the attack, which left over a dozen people, including a Holocaust survivor, injured. The slew of charges includes 28 counts of attempted murder, along with assault and explosives charges.
He is next scheduled to appear in court in the state case on July 15.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
DHS arrests 'worst of the worst' migrants in LA despite rioters, pols pushing back
As Los Angeles became a violent battleground against President Donald Trump's mass deportation plan, Homeland Security said it was still pulling the worst criminal illegal migrants off the streets to keep law-abiding residents safe. Homeland Security has released criminal records and mugshots of more than 20 illegal migrants it apprehended recently. They have been accused of serious crimes, including murder, pedophilia, fentanyl trafficking, sexual assault and armed robbery, the agency said. The arrests were made when anti-ICE protesters were rioting in the city earlier this month. The wild and ugly scenes saw rioters attack law enforcement with rocks and Molotov cocktails while others burned vehicles and other property. Some of the agitators waved the flags of foreign nations as they carried out their crimes. Ice Ramps Up Arrests Of Convicted Criminals As Riots Rage In Blue City: 'You Will Not Stop Us' Some of those arrested by immigration officials for deportation include Mexican national Cesar Zetina-Michua, who was convicted of attempted murder after entering the U.S. illegally, and Cuban national Daniel Ofarril, who was arrested for murder, armed robbery and drug trafficking, including a conviction of possessing crack cocaine with intent to sell. Alleged Salvadorian MS-13 gang member Oscar Juventino Ardon Landaverde, who is on the Terrorist Screening Dataset and reentered the U.S. multiple times, was also arrested, as were several drug traffickers who peddle cocaine and fentanyl. Read On The Fox News App Agents also collared multiple convicted sex offenders, like Efran Omar Rosales-Serrano, who attempted to molest a child under 12, and Juan Diego Euan, who was convicted of sexually penetrating a minor under 16. California Sheriff Says Newsom 'Encouraged' La Riots As Ice Arrests Violent Illegal Aliens Others include predators convicted of sexual crimes against minors or incapacitated victims. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin slammed those trying to stand in the way of immigration officials carrying out lawful immigration enforcement. "Under the Trump administration, 70% of illegal aliens arrested have been convicted or charged with a crime beyond illegally entering our country," McLaughlin said. "As bad-faith politicians attempt to demean and vilify our brave law enforcement, we will only double down and ramp up our enforcement actions against the worst of the worst criminals." Large-scale immigration raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked widespread protests that escalated into violent confrontations. President Trump activated the state's National Guard and about 700 Marines despite pushback by LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, which helped quell the riots. Also arrested in the recent operations were Hung Nguyen, of Vietnam, who has convictions for 22 crimes, including indecent exposure, theft and domestic violence, and Cristian Vasco-Echeverry of Colombia, who has a history of drug trafficking and served more than 10 years in a Colombian article source: DHS arrests 'worst of the worst' migrants in LA despite rioters, pols pushing back
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New York braces for billionaire exodus after socialist Zohran Mamdani's win
New York is bracing for an 'exodus of billionaires' after the Democrats nominated a staunch socialist as their candidate for mayor. Zorham Mamdani, a 33-year-old 'anti-Zionist', sent shock waves through American politics on Tuesday when he beat Andrew Cuomo, the former governor, in the Democratic primary, earning him the party's nomination for November's mayoral election. A rank outsider, Mr Mamdani was carried to victory by a wave of young voters who were won over by his radical campaign pledges to freeze rents and introduce free public transport and city-run grocery stores, all of which he pledged would be paid for by hiking taxes on the wealthy. The primary result has sparked panic among New York's ultra-rich, with luxury real estate agents inundated with calls from clients looking to relocate or freeze plans to move their businesses to Manhattan. One high-end broker described Mr Mamdani's victory as the 'worst thing for the housing market since 9/11', while another called it the 'nail in the coffin' for New York. 'There's an old saying in real estate: Money goes where it's welcome,' said John Boyd Jr, founder of Florida-based corporate site selection specialist The Boyd Co, who works with a range of multi-millionaire New York-based clients. 'There's alarms going off among many key executives as well as the billionaire class about New York becoming a socialist run city,' he said. Eric Benaim, a leading real estate broker known as 'The King of Queens', said that his phone has been 'blowing up' with clients panicking about the impact of Mr Mamdani's policies. 'One person just liquidated everything. He was just about to make another investment in New York city but he's now going to look elsewhere,' said Mr Benaim, the founder of Modern Spaces. 'It's the most devastating thing (to our industry) since 9/11,' he added. 'We are going to have the biggest exodus of New Yorkers since Covid - except this time, they're not going to come back. That's going to change New York.' Mr Mamdani plans to hike the corporate tax rate from 7.25 per cent to 11 per cent and to charge those earning over $1 million a year an additional two per cent in city income tax, which is expected to cost wealthy households an additional $118,000 a year. Business executives say the proposals have triggered widespread dismay, with Kathryn Wylde, the CEO of the partnership for New York City, which represents top business leaders, warning that 'terror' is being felt by many New Yorkers. Briggs Elwell, the CEO and co-founder of RLTYco, a real estate consultant in New York, told The Telegraph it was 'a time of unique uncertainty'. While James Whelan, president of the real estate board of New York, described Mr Mamdani's proposals on how to cut crime, build houses and create jobs as 'fanciful and extreme'. Many of the city's ultra-wealthy have thrown their weight behind the more business-friendly incumbent Eric Adams, who launched his re-election campaign as an independent on Thursday with a rousing speech in which he declared: 'This is not a city of handouts.' Mr Adams won as a Democrat in his first mayoral bid in 2021, but announced he would run an independent after he saw his popularity plummet following his indictment on corruption charges, which he denied. The case was later dropped by the Trump administration. Late on Wednesday, Mr Adams courted Wall Street sharks and politicos in a Manhattan conference room where they plotted how to block the rise of Mr Mamdani, according to The New York Times. As New York's top one per cent look to leave the city, low-tax states such as Florida, which does not levy income tax, are set to become 'big winners', with Mr Benaim claiming property agents are 'rubbing their hands' at the prospect of wealthy buyers flooding into the state. Mr Boyd said that he has been inundated with enquiries in recent weeks from business executives looking to move full-time to South Florida, which he called 'the sixth borough of Manhattan'. Republicans have been quick to cash in on the so-called 'Mamdani effect', with Jack Ciattarelli, a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate, inviting business owners to move to the state. 'To all the residents and business owners of New York City who don't want a socialist, defund the police, anti-Semitic mayor representing them, I encourage you to move to New Jersey,' Mr Ciattarelli wrote on X. Even members of Mr Mamdani's own party have sought to distance themselves from him, with John Fetterman, the centrist Democratic senator, describing the state assembly member's nomination as 'Christmas in July for the GOP'. Kathy Hochul, the New York Governor, also refused to endorse Mr Mamdani's tax rises in the lead up to the primary, telling reporters: 'I don't want to lose any more people to Palm Beach.' It is not only Mr Mamdani's fiscal policy that has generated consternation among New York's business leaders. A self-described 'anti-Zionist', the mayoral candidate is a staunch Palestinian supporter and incensed members of the Jewish community by refusing to condemn the phrase 'globalise the intifada'. In a city with the biggest Jewish population outside of Israel, this is a major problem, according to Greg Kraut, the CEO of KPG funds, the largest office developer in New York. 'I've probably had about 30 phone calls from clients who are very nervous,' he said. 'Any time there is a headline that says 'anti-Semite socialist wins Democratic party election', that's not good for business, is it?' Experts also fear that Mr Mamdani's plans to pay for free public transport and universal free childcare with tax rises on the wealthy are unrealistic. 'If you are making a million or more in New York City, going from four per cent to six per cent in income tax is a 50 per cent tax increase - it's substantial,' said Nicole Gelnas, a senior fellow focused on Urban Economics at the Manhattan Institute. According to the city's independent budget office, one per cent of households pay 40 per cent of city income taxes, with non-resident tax payers making up the fastest growing group of New York taxpayers. 'It doesn't take many of them to say, 'I can spend eight months a year in Florida and come back here whenever and save myself a lot of money,' to change the tax base,' Ms Gelnas added. Luxury real estate dealers fear Mr Mamdani's support for de-funding the police and abolishing prisons will drive down property prices. He has also endorsed decriminalising prostitution and pledged to block US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents' efforts to deport undocumented migrants. The last democratic socialist elected mayor of New York was David Dinkins, whose three-year term in office from 1990 was marked by racial discord, a drug epidemic, high levels of homelessness and a soaring murder rate. 'Crime was through the roof, businesses were fleeing and public services weren't being met,' recalled Mr Kraut, warning that the election of Mr Mamdani could herald a return to those dark days. 'People have called me up from Chicago saying: 'You guys are up next,'' he cautioned. Mr Mamdani romped to victory thanks in part to a tidal wave of support from young voters, enamoured with his progressive agenda and slick social media campaign. However, real estate agents warned that wealthy liberal voters' preoccupation with radical left-wing politics is naive. 'Everyone's a liberal until they lose their limo,' said Mr Kraut. 'If those companies and ultra net worth individuals choose to leave the city, your tax base goes bye bye.' Reflecting on the long-term effects on America's wealthiest city, he added: 'New York always survives, but it's just another nail in the coffin.' Mr Boyd warned that the primary result could spook investors in the long-term, potentially sending the city into a downward spiral. He said: 'There's a very significant concern among job creators, investors and the real estate industry that New York is now always one election cycle from being a socialist-run city.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
New York Post
16 hours ago
- New York Post
Accused Colorado firebomber pleads not guilty to hate crimes at demonstration for Israeli hostages
A man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at a group of people who were demonstrating in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages pleaded not guilty Friday to federal hate crime charges. Mohamed Sabry Soliman was indicted earlier this week on 12 hate crime counts in the June 1 attack. He is accused of trying to kill eight people who were hurt by the Molotov cocktails and others who were nearby. Soliman's attorney, David Kraut, entered the not guilty plea on Soliman's behalf during a quick hearing. 3 In this booking photo released on June 2, 2025, by the Boulder Police Department, Mohamed Sabry Soliman is seen at the Boulder County Jail on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder County Sheriff's Office/AFP via Getty Images Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella noted that lawyers had acknowledged that a plea agreement in the case was possible later. Soliman, wearing a khaki jail uniform, entered the courtroom smiling and holding an envelope in his handcuffed hands. His right hand and arm were wrapped in a thick bandage as they were when he appeared in court last week, when an investigator testified that Soliman had burned himself as he threw the second of two Molotov cocktails at the group. He listened to a translation of the hearing provided by an Arabic interpreter through headphones. He did not speak during the hearing. Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall. But he threw just two of his over two dozen Molotov cocktails while yelling 'Free Palestine.' 3 Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the demonstration. Soliman, who is also being prosecuted in state court for attempted murder and other charges, told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a 'legal citizen.' He posed as a gardener, wearing a construction vest, to get close to the group before launching the attack, according to court documents. He was also indicted for using fire and an explosive to attack the group and for carrying an explosive, which were included in the hate crime counts. Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. 3 Soliman posed as a gardener, wearing a construction vest, to get close to the group before launching the attack, according to court documents. CBS News Soliman is being represented in state and federal court by public defenders who do not comment on their cases to the media. Prosecutors say the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual national origin. At a hearing last week, Kraut, Soliman's defense attorney, urged Starnella not to allow the case to move forward. Kraut said the alleged attack was not a hate crime. He said it was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law.
