Colorado Attack Suspect Lived in Kuwait for 17 Years
COLORADO, June 3: Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the 45-year-old Egyptian man accused of carrying out a violent attack at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, had previously lived in Kuwait for 17 years before relocating to the United States, U.S. prosecutors revealed. Soliman moved to Colorado Springs three years ago with his wife and five children, reportedly so his daughter could pursue a medical education—an opportunity he believed was unavailable in Kuwait.
According to CNN, Soliman had worked as an accountant in Kuwait and maintained a Facebook profile that featured images supporting the Muslim Brotherhood's protests against the 2013 ousting of Egypt's former president, Mohamed Morsi. Authorities say Soliman spent a year meticulously planning the attack, delaying it until after his daughter's high school graduation.
A report in the Colorado Springs Gazette earlier this year profiled a scholarship recipient who closely matched the description of Soliman's daughter. In her application, she wrote about her family's immigration journey from Kuwait to the U.S. and described how her father underwent a 'difficult surgery' that restored his ability to walk—an event that inspired her to pursue medicine.
When questioned by investigators, Soliman admitted to researching how to construct Molotov cocktails on YouTube and selecting his target group through online sources. On the day of the attack, he reportedly left a hidden iPhone in his home office containing personal messages and a diary. Disguised as a gardener in a yellow safety vest and carrying a bouquet, he approached the rally site to launch his assault.
Bystanders captured video footage of Soliman after the attack, shirtless and yelling slogans such as 'Free Palestine' and 'Stop the Zionists' before being apprehended by police. He now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault, possession of an incendiary device, and a federal hate crime. The FBI has classified the attack as an act of domestic terrorism.
'He stated he had no regrets and would do it again,' said J. Bishop Gruwell, Colorado's Interim U.S. Attorney. A police detective noted in court documents that Soliman had told authorities, 'He had to do it… and would not forgive himself if he didn't.' If convicted, Soliman faces a life sentence.
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