Boulder suspect charged with 118 counts including attempted murder
DENVER (KDVR) – Over 100 charges have been formally filed against the suspect in the Boulder, Colorado, terror attack that injured 15 people on Sunday.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces 118 charges. He is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails into a group of people who were holding a peaceful gathering at the Pearl Street Mall. Soliman also faces a federal hate crime charge.
Charges were filed by the 20th Judicial District Attorney's Office on Thursday. The charges are for various alleged crimes, including:
Soliman, from Egypt, overstayed his tourist visa and was living in the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. His wife and five children were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
An FBI affidavit said Soliman confessed to the attack and allegedly told the police he would do it again. According to the criminal complaint, the suspect told police he had been planning the attack for a year and waited until after his daughter's graduation to attack. He told investigators he researched and specifically targeted a 'Zionist group.'
The group was holding a demonstration, which the city of Boulder said is a weekly peaceful event, as part of the Run for Their Lives organization, according to the complaint. The group hosts global running and walking events where local communities meet once a week to call for the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
Authorities said 15 people and one dog were hurt. The victims range in age from 25 to 88, including one who is a Holocaust survivor.
During a press conference on Thursday, officials announced that three people remained in the hospital from the attack.
The hearing on Thursday at the Boulder County Jail lasted for three minutes. Soliman was present in a livestream wearing an orange jumpsuit. He stood in a sectioned-off area of the courtroom that was not visible to the public, with a glass wall separating the public from Soliman, the attorneys and the judge.
Members of the public were present, but there were no victims sitting on the benches that were designated for them.
The judge asked Soliman a couple of questions, including one about when the next hearing would take place and another on whom he must not contact as this court process moves forward.
'The people had also asked for a protective order on the 4th of June. Does the defendant want to respond to that motion, or are you content with me ruling on it without a formal response?' District Court Judge Nancy Salomone asked.
'We have no objection to that request at this time,' Soliman's Defense attorney, Kathryn Herold, said.
Herold is the public defender who represented the man convicted in the 2021 Boulder King Soopers supermarket shooting, in which 10 people were killed. The Boulder County Assistant District Attorney in the Soliman case is Ken Kupfner, who also helped prosecute the King Soopers case.
Soliman's next hearing on state charges is on July 15.
A federal hearing on the hate crime charge is scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Denver.
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USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
Divisions deepen in wealthy, liberal Boulder after antisemitic attack
Divisions deepen in wealthy, liberal Boulder after antisemitic attack instead of bringing the community together, the attack appears to have further exacerbated existing fault lines across the wealthy, liberal city of Boulder Show Caption Hide Caption Boulder community honors attack victims, condemns antisemitism The Boulder Jewish Community Center hosted a vigil for community members to come and support victims of a fire-bomb attack. BOULDER ― In sandals and winter boots, in rain and snow and sun, their feet tread the red bricks with a silent request: Bring them home. They push strollers and wheelchairs, carrying flags and signs with that same message: Bring them home. They ignore the taunts and epithets flung by college students and counter-protesters, focusing on their goal: Bring them home. These moments, these footsteps, they weren't political. It wasn't about their personal views on Israel's war against Hamas. "We just want them home," said longtime marcher Lisa Turnquist, 66. "That's why we do this," she said. The small group of "Run for their Lives" marchers in this college town were sharing their message on June 1 − 603 days since Hamas snatched concertgoers and ordinary people from southern Israel and vanished them into Gaza's tunnels. But halfway through the Sunday afternoon march, a suicidal Muslim immigrant attacked them with a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, injuring 12, including an elderly Holocaust survivor. Many regular marchers of the group are Jewish. Six of the injured in what federal officials have described as a terror attack were from the same synagogue, Bonai Shalom. But instead of bringing the community together, the attack appears to have further exacerbated existing fault lines across this wealthy, liberal city where pro-Palestinian protests verging on outright antisemitism have become a way of life for elected leaders and college students. After the attack, someone posted "Wanted" signs on the Pearl Street Mall just steps from the scene, naming the majority of city council members as guilty of "complicity in genocide" for refusing to pass a ceasefire resolution and not divesting from businesses that are helping Israel wage its war against Hamas. "Not only has the rhetoric become increasingly centered around violence and division but we have an increasing amount of cowardice, from cowardly administrators, cowardly government officials," said Adam Rovner, who directs the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver. "We're seeing it much more clearly now. And unfortunately Jewish communities are paying the cost." Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces more than 118 state and federal charges in connection with the attack, including hate-crime accusations. Investigators say he confessed and remains unrepentant, telling them he deliberately targeted the marchers because he considered them a "Zionist Group." Divisions continue after Pearl Street attack Amid the extreme positions on the Israel-Hamas war, Run for their Lives believed most people could get behind their message. The national Run for their Lives organization has sponsored walks or runs in hundreds of cities and towns since Oct. 7, 2023, the day of the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust in which over 1,000 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage. As of June 5, 56 hostages are still being held by Hamas, although that number includes both the living and presumed dead. On June 1, as she had dozens of times in the past, Turnquist was pushing her Australian shepherd Jake in a stroller as the group made its way past the historic Boulder County Courthouse on Pearl Street pedestrian mall. She saw a man dressed like a landscaper ‒ odd, she thought, since it was a Sunday ‒ and thought it would be best to just keep walking, as she had done so many times before when counter-protesters screamed and yelled. There had never been physical violence against the group, but there were insults, jeers, accusations that the marchers themselves support genocide. Turnquist and others who have marched said they often felt unsafe. "We ignore the people who are against us," said Turnquist, who is Jewish. "We can't let Boulder tell us what to do. We can't let university students tell us we can't do stuff like this, because that's what they do. Week after week, people are yelling at us all the time, saying we are causing genocide. We're not causing genocide. We were attacked and we are fighting to get our hostages back." The conflict between the marchers and counter-protesters is a microcosm of the vicious disputes that have long been on display in Boulder, where Palestinian students disrupted classes earlier this year. Turnquist, the protest marcher, said knowing the group lacked the full support of local elected officials made it harder to feel comfortable during those Sunday protests. She said she went into a Boulder shop at the start of the Gaza war while wearing a necklace with a Jewish symbol on it. The shopkeeper suggested she hide it, so she didn't become a target, she said. "One of the things I remember saying was ... the masks are going to come off and we're going to see who the antisemites are. We're going to see them for who they are. And sure enough it started happening all over," Turnquist said. "It was people that I didn't even think would be antisemites ‒ it was some friends." Nationally, polls have shown that younger Americans are more likely to side with Palestinians than with Israel, including young Jews. And an April 2024 poll by the Pew Research Center found that 31% of Jews younger than 35 felt Hamas' reasons for fighting were valid, compared to just 10% for Jews aged 35 and older. Turnquist said the Sunday marches were deliberately non-political: They didn't call for attacks on Hamas or for more retaliation by Israel. Instead, they focused on the one thing they thought everyone would agree with. To Soliman, that apparently didn't matter. According to investigators, he researched the protest group online, took concealed-weapons classes and planned his attack for a year. Video recordings of the attack captured Soliman shouting "Free Palestine" as he threw Molotov cocktails into the crowd of marchers, setting fire to several victims, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. "Mohamed said it was revenge as the Zionist group did not care about thousands of hostages from Palestine," Boulder police wrote in an arrest affidavit. "Mohamed said this had nothing to do with the Jewish community and was specific in the Zionist group supporting the killings of people on his land (Palestine)." Soliman's motivation, as reported by police, mirrored similar language used by the sole member of the Boulder City Council who declined to sign onto a group statement from city leaders condemning the attack. Councilmember Taishya Adams condemned the attack but said she declined to sign the group statement, which identified Soliman's actions as antisemitic, because it didn't specifically note that he was also motivated by what she considers anti-Zionism. "If we are to prevent future violence and additional attacks in our community, I believe we need to be real about the possible motivations for this heinous act," Adams wrote in a statement explaining her decision. "Denying our community the full truth about the attack denies us the ability to fully protect ourselves and each other." Responded Councilmember Mark Wallach: "Your efforts to make what I think is a pedantic distinction as to whether a man who attempted to burn peaceful elderly demonstrators alive − to burn them alive, Taishya − was acting as an antisemite or an anti-Zionist is simply grotesque." Jewish groups in Boulder have previously tangled with Adams over what they say are her own antisemitic remarks regarding Palestine, and pro-Palestinian protesters repeatedly disrupted city council meetings. Adams did not return a request for comment from USA TODAY. On June 5, the first meeting after the attack, the mayor announced that in-person public comment would be prohibited because pro-Palestinian protesters have so often disrupted meetings. Among those who have watched protesters disrupt council meetings was Barbara Steinmetz, a Holocaust survivor burned in the June 1 attack. In a video interview last year, Steinmetz recounted what it was like to attend council meetings alongside pro-Palestinian protesters, including one interaction with a woman carrying a sign referencing "from the river to the sea," the rallying cry of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which called for erasing Israel. "I turned to her and said, 'Do you realize that that means you want to kill me? You want me destroyed?' But she just turned away," Steinmetz said. "Jews in Boulder and maybe Denver and probably in cities all around the world, are afraid of wearing their Jewish stars. They're taking down their mezuzahs so that no one will know that it's a Jewish house. They're not identifying themselves because they're frightened." Soliman's attack didn't happen in a vacuum Rovner, from the University of Denver, said pro-Palestinian college protests helped lay the groundwork for increased violence, in part because many students don't truly appreciate what it means to repeat and thus desensitize the meaning of chants like "globalize the intifada" and declarations that Palestine should run "from the river to the sea." Says the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs: "Calls to 'globalize the intifada' are not calls for civil disobedience, general strikes, or negotiations. They are calls for the murder of Israelis and Jews around the world and must be taken seriously by governments and law enforcement agencies." Like CU-Boulder, the University of Denver was home to an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters last year, and Rovner said there were repeated confrontations between the protesters and Jewish students walking to class. Rovner has a close friend who often participated in the Boulder walks. "These are precisely the kinds of things that cause terrorist groups to pick up weapons to attack people," Rovner said. "When you heighten the rhetoric of hatred and demonize one country and claim to only be opposing an ideology, you are almost inevitably going to see action based on that rhetoric." Jewish scholars and community leaders say the attack on Boulder was frustratingly predictable given the sharp rise in antisemitism sparked by the war in Gaza, with escalating rhetoric, protests and demonstrations nationwide, particularly on college campus and college towns. In response to those warnings, President Donald Trump specifically targeted pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses, launching investigations into 40 campuses that his administration has accused of not doing enough to protect the Jewish community from participants. Security and extremism experts say a significant factor in driving violence is that many protesters draw no distinction between someone who is Jewish and someone who supports Israel's attacks on Hamas in Gaza, which is home to about 2.1 million Palestinians. In April, a man firebombed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's house hours after a Passover celebration, telling police he targeted Shapiro over "what he wants to do to the Palestinian people." And on May 22, a man shot and killed a young couple outside the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. "Free Palestine," the man shouted. "I did it for Gaza," he later told investigators. "These attacks and many more in recent months ‒ on campus, at Jewish institutions and this time at a peaceful gathering here in Boulder ‒ have targeted people whose only 'offense' is that they are Jewish. Or someone thought they were Jewish. Or they were standing as allies alongside Jews," the Rocky Mountain Anti-Defamation League said in a statement to USA TODAY. A report released last month found that antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2024 hit a record high for the fourth consecutive year. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security on June 5 issued a security alert warning that more antisemitic violence could be coming. "The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict may motivate other violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators with similar grievances to conduct violence against Jewish and Israeli communities and their supporters," the security agencies said in the warning. "Foreign terrorist organizations also may try to exploit narratives related to the conflict to inspire attacks in the United States." Survivor returns to site of the attack Run for their Lives organizers say they remain undeterred as they gear up for this weekend's march. "This didn't happen in a vacuum. It is the result of increasingly normalized hate, dehumanizing rhetoric, and silence in the face of rising antisemitism. But we will not be deterred," Rachel Amaru, the founder of Boulder Run For Their Lives said at a June 4 rally for the victims. "We invite everyone to join us, not just with your feet, but with open hearts and minds. Choose humanity over hate, curiosity over judgment, and learning over condemnation." The day after the attack, Turnquist returned to the scene of the attack to lay flowers and display a small Israeli flag on behalf of her injured friends. Still shaken by the attack just 24 hours earlier, she visibly shook as she recounted her efforts to help the victims. "I woke up this morning and didn't want to get out of bed. I didn't want to get out of bed and didn't want to talk to my friends who were calling me. But this is when we have to get up and stand up, and we have to push back," Turnquist said. And she promised to be back walking every Sunday until all the hostages are home.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Apopka family faces deportation following ICE arrest
The Brief Small business owner Esvin Juarez has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas, while his wife, Rosmeri Miranda, wears an ankle monitor in Florida. Their children, who are United States citizens, face the possibility of their parents being deported to Guatemala, leaving the eldest daughter to care for her siblings. The family is working with attorney Grisel Ybarra to reopen their immigration case and pursue legal action. APOPKA, Fla. - An Apopka family is facing deportation charges after the father of the family was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The couple's children are United States citizens and say they are deeply affected by the situation. What we know Esvin Juarez is currently being held in a detention facility in Texas by ICE. His wife, Rosmeri Miranda, is under surveillance with an ankle monitor in Florida. The couple's children, including 21-year-old Beverly Juarez, are U.S. citizens and say they are deeply affected by the situation. The family has been in the U.S. for more than 20 years, running a successful concrete business. The backstory Juarez and Miranda said they missed an immigration hearing shortly after arriving in the U.S., resulting in a deportation order issued in absentia. Juarez said he was a victim of assault and has been seeking a U-Visa and a work permit, which would allow him to stay in the U.S. while his application is pending. What they're saying FOX 35's Matt Trezza spoke with Beverly Juarez at the family's Apopka home. Beverly Juarez expressed her fears and stress over potentially having to care for her younger siblings alone if her parents are deported. "They complied every single time, and we had hopes that everything was looking good," she said. "You know, all along the process. And so, I had a lot of shock. But now, all I can do is pray." Trezza also spoke with the family's attorney, Grisel Ybarra, by phone. Ybarra highlighted the family's achievements and contrasted them with the challenges they face under current immigration policies. "They broke through ethnic barriers, language barriers, race barriers and became a success," she said. "In Apopka. In the middle of Florida." What's next The family is working with Ybarra to file a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the deportation order and seek relief. ICE has been contacted for further information on the case, and the family awaits their response. Big picture view Florida has recently implemented a series of laws aimed at cracking down on undocumented immigration, including making it a crime to knowingly enter or attempt to enter the state illegally, and increasing penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. These measures have been met with concern from some, who fear the potential for widespread arrests and due process violations. Why you should care This story underscores the human impact of immigration policies and the challenges faced by families striving for life in the U.S. amidst legal uncertainties. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information gathered by FOX 35's Matt Trezz in interviews with Beverly Juarez and Attorney Grisel Ybarra.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
San Jose's undocumented residents ‘under attack' by ICE, councilman says
(KRON) — Following recent arrests in San Jose carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, a city councilman declared that local undocumented residents are 'under attack.' Councilmember Peter Ortiz described increased federal immigration enforcement as 'disturbing.' Ortiz sent a memo Friday calling on the city to allocate $1 million in emergency funding to support and protect immigrant and undocumented communities. The councilman said he is making the request in the midst of increased ICE apprehensions and the recent opening of a new ICE office in South San Jose. 'Our community is under attack. ICE has begun to increase its presence in our neighborhoods, and families are being torn apart. These are not abstract headlines — these are our neighbors, our friends, our coworkers. The people of San Jose deserve to feel safe in their own city,' Ortiz said. The memo calls on the City Council to approve the funding during a final budget hearing on Tuesday, June 10th, as a moral response to the 'crisis.' The requested $1 million will provide legal assistance, rapid response services, and community outreach to ensure undocumented residents know their rights and have access to help. ICE agents made arrests in San Jose Wednesday. On Tuesday, ICE agents were seen conducting an operation in the area of Snell Avenue and Blossom Hill Road. 'We know the federal government is ramping up enforcement efforts and expanding their capacity to detain and deport. What we've seen here in San Jose is likely just the beginning,' Ortiz said. 'We cannot allow members of our community to be hunted and captured like animals.' A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told KRON4 on Friday that ICE's Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program and Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) exist to ensure compliance. The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, 'All illegal aliens are afforded due process. Those arrested had executable final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied with that order. If you are in the country illegally and a judge has ordered you to be removed, that is precisely what will happen. During the Biden administration, thousands of illegal aliens — including violent criminals — with final orders of removal were on ATD and allowed to roam our communities. This should never have been the case. Thanks to the leadership of Secretary Noem and President Trump, the proper policy is back in place.' Ortiz's memo said immigrants serve a critical role in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of San Jose. The San Jose City Budget Hearing will take place June 10 at City Hall. Public comment will be open, and residents are encouraged to attend and speak out. Federal immigration agents raided several locations in downtown Los Angeles Friday. Agents reportedly detained dozens of people while encountering protesters. Officers wearing vests emblazoned with HSI — an acronym for Homeland Security Investigations — were seen taking people into custody, KTLA reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
