Boulder firebombing suspect charged with hate crime in federal court
Boulder firebombing suspect charged with hate crime in federal court
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Authorities charged alleged Boulder attacker with attempted murder
Authorities formally charged Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 118 criminal counts including dozens of attempted murder charges.
The suspect in a Boulder, Colorado, attack on a gathering to support Israeli hostages in Gaza made an initial appearance on June 6 in federal court where he was formally charged with a hate crime.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is accused of targeting the group at a pedestrian mall with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower on June 1, according to a criminal complaint. He threw the makeshift firebombs at the Jewish demonstrators while he was shouting "Free Palestine," according to federal court filings detailing the suspected hate crime. Officials said 15 people between the ages of 25 and 88 were injured with burns.
A judge ordered Soliman back in court on June 18 for a hearing where prosecutors will begin presenting evidence, according to court filings. Soliman appeared in court with an Arabic translator.
Soliman, an Egyptian native who authorities said overstayed a tourist visa to the United States, also appeared in a state courtroom on June 5, where he was charged with another 118 criminal counts, including attempted murder, using explosive devices, attempting to use an incendiary device, assault on someone over the age of 70 and other charges. He's expected back in court for the state charges in July.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the attack was antisemitic. In a federal criminal complaint, authorities said Soliman admitted to investigators that "he wanted to kill all Zionist people" and wanted to stop them from taking over "our land," referring to Palestine.
The federal hate crime charge could carry a sentence of up to life in prison if he is convicted. USA TODAY has reached out to Soliman's defense attorney for comment.
'We are better than this': Holocaust survivor burned in Boulder speaks after attack
What happened in the Boulder attack?
The attack happened the afternoon of June 1 at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder. The group Run for Their Lives was holding a weekly demonstration advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants.
Soliman, who told investigators he'd been planning the attack for a year, threw two lit Molotov cocktails into the crowd while yelling 'Free Palestine,' the federal criminal complaint said. When he was taken into custody, authorities found an additional 16 Molotov cocktails and a weed sprayer with gasoline.
"As a result of these preliminary attacks, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism," Mark Michalek, special agent in charge at the FBI's Denver field office, said after the attack.
The injured victims had burns that ranged from minor to serious. Three were still hospitalized, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said on June 5.
Who is the suspect, Mohamed Soliman?
Soliman, who lived in El Paso County, Colorado, has worked as an Uber driver and has five children. He told investigators that he waited for his daughter to graduate from high school before executing his planned attack, the criminal complaint said.
Soliman entered the United States in August 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa that expired over two years ago, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. An affidavit said he was born in Egypt and lived in Kuwait for 17 years before moving to Colorado. McLaughlin said Soliman applied for asylum in September 2022.
He tried to purchase a gun but opted to use the incendiary devices instead when he realized he couldn't buy a gun legally because of his citizenship status, according to the court records. He also said he learned how to make the Molotov cocktails online.
Soliman told law enforcement he left an iPhone at the house, hidden in a desk drawer, with messages to his family. He also left behind a journal, the criminal complaint said.
Family faces possible deportation
Soliman's wife and five children were detained by immigration officials after his arrest and faced immediate deportation, Trump administration officials said. A federal judge temporarily blocked them from being deported on June 4.
U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher said deporting the family without adequate process could cause "irreparable harm."
FBI and police officials said the family has cooperated with investigators, and Soliman said his family had no knowledge of his plans.
The visas of his wife and five children have been revoked, multiple media outlets including the New York Times reported. His daughter Habiba Soliman graduated from high school on May 29 and said she hoped to attend medical school. Her father told investigators he waited until after her graduation to carry out the attack.
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