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UPI
7 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
Judge temporarily halts deportation of Boulder suspect's family
The family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement but a judge Wednesday ordered a temporary halt on deporation. Photo via Boulder Police Department/UPI | License Photo June 4 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the deportation of family members of the Egyptian national charged in the anti-Semitic attack in Boulder, Colo. In the U.S. District Court in Denver, Judge Gordon P. Gallagher directed the federal government to stop the deportation proceedings of Mohamed Soliman's 41-year-old wife, Hayem El Gamal, and their five children. On Tuesday, they were taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Florence, Colo., about 40 miles from their home in Colorado Springs. Federal immigration records show they are being held at a federal detention center in Dilley, Texas, designed to house families with minors, CBS News reported. The White House posted Tuesday on X: "THEY COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT." Six One-Way Tickets for Mohamed's Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon. ✈️ The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 3, 2025 "Defendants SHALL NOT REMOVE" the five undocumented migrants from Colorado or the United States "unless or until this Court or the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacates this order," Gallagher wrote in his order. "Moreover, the Court finds that deportation without process could work irreparable harm and an order must (be) issue(d) without notice due to the urgency this situation presents." He set a hearing for June 13 for a request on a temporary restraining order. The Washington Post reported the family was held "incommunicado and without access to a lawyer" after they were placed in ICE custody on Tuesday, their lawyers said in court records. By applying for asylum, the Trump administration can't legally speed up their deportation, the legal representative said. "Punishing individuals - including children as young as four-years-old - for the purported actions of their relatives is a feature of medieval justice systems or police state dictatorships, not democracies," family attorney Eric Lee said Wednesday in a statement to CNN. "The detention and attempted removal of this family is an assault on core democratic principles and must provoke widespread opposition in the population, immigrant and non-immigrant alike." In the court filing obtained by The New York Times, the suspect's wife "was shocked to learn" that her husband "was arrested for having committed a violent act against a peaceful gathering of individuals commemorating Israeli hostages." After his arrest, Soliman told detectives "no one" knew about his attack plans," including his wife or children, according to the affidavit for his arrest filed Sunday. "We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it. I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their families. Justice will be served," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X on Tuesday. The children are an 18-year-old daughter, two girls and two boys. They are Egyptian citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. El Gamal, 41, is a network engineer with a pending EB-2 visa for professionals with advanced degrees. The eldest daughter, identified as Habiba Soliman, recently graduated from high school in Colorado Springs. An article in the Colorado Springs Gazette on April 25 said she had won a scholarship and planned to study medicine. In August 2022, they were initially granted entry until February 2023, DHS said in a Wednesday statement. Soliman applied for asylum in September 2022 in Denver, the agency said. In 2023, Soliman received a two-year work authorization that expired in March, a DHS official told CNN. Authorities say Soliman yelled "Free Palestine" and used a flamethrower to ignite molotov cocktails and threw them into the crowd where a pro-Israeli group, Run for Their Lives, was seeking the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Who is Mohamed Soliman? Records reveal Colorado terror suspect tried to purchase a gun
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man who authorities say attacked a pro-Israel event in Colorado and left 12 people with burn injuries, tried to purchase a gun and took a concealed carry course but opted instead to use incendiary devices when he could not legally buy a gun, according to court documents. Soliman nodded and quietly said "yes" when asked routine questions about his detention by a judge as he appeared virtually from Boulder County Jail for a bond hearing on June 2. The day before, after being arrested for the attack, he told investigators he "wanted to kill all Zionist people" and would launch another assault if he was able to, a federal affidavit said. And in Monday afternoon news conference, state, local and federal officials said Soliman, 45, had an additional 16 incendiary devices within his reach as he was taken into custody. Authorities said he also had tried to purchase a gun, but was denied due to his citizenship status. Soliman, of El Paso County, Colorado, was arrested June 1 at a pedestrian mall where investigators said he hurled Molotov cocktails into a crowd and used a makeshift flamethrower to attack a group of people peacefully advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. He's now facing federal hate crime and attempted murder charges, as well as state charges of attempted murder, use of incendiary devices, and other offenses. He remained in custody on $10 million cash bond. Authorities said in the news conference June 2 they believe he acted alone. According to an arrest affidavit, Soliman told medical personnel on the scene he'd planned the attack as vengeance for "his people." The affidavit said he has a valid Colorado driver's license and no prior criminal history. After his arrest, Soliman told investigators he "wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead," the affidavit said. It continued: "(Soliman) stated that he hated the 'Zionist group' and did this because he hated this group and needed to stop them from taking over 'our land,' which he explained to be Palestine." He further told investigators he planned the assault for a year and "was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack," the affidavit said. Soliman, a father of five, entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa that expired over two years ago, said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. An affidavit said he was born in Egypt and lived in Kuwait for 17 years before moving to Colorado three years ago. Local law enforcement was dispatched Sunday at 1:26 p.m. to the outdoor Pearl Street Mall, where a man had launched an attack against a weekly, peaceful event advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza, according to the Boulder Police Department. Witnesses said the attacker used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd, said Mark Michalek, special agent in charge at the FBI's Denver field office. He said witnesses heard the suspect yell "free Palestine." Eight victims – four women and four men, ages 52 to 88 – were injured in the attack and brought to hospitals in the Denver metro area, according to the Boulder Police Department. "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," Michalek said. In his Toyota Prius parked nearby, investigators discovered red rags, a jug of gasoline and paperwork with the words "Israel," "Palestine" and "USAID," according to the charging document. He told investigators that after being denied the legal purchase of a gun due to not being a citizen, he researched on YouTube how to make Molotov Cocktails, purchased the ingredients to do so and constructed them himself, the affidavit said. Police initially said there were 8 victims, but in the news conference the day after the attacks, they said another four victims came forward. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said the additional victims were not immediately identified as such because their injuries were minor. McLaughlin said Soliman's tourist visa expired in February 2023, six months after he arrived in the U.S. In general, B-2 visas are valid for six months and can be used for vacations, visiting relatives, medical treatment or participation in music, sports or events. The State Department issues millions of B-1 and B-2 visas each year. B-1 visas are similar to B-2 and allow for nonimmigrants to visit for six months for conferences and business for six months. In addition, McLaughlin said Soliman applied for asylum in September 2022. That claim was likely still pending. As of March, the immigration court backlog was around 3.6 million cases, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on X described Soliman as an "illegal alien" and criticized the Biden administration, which he accused of approving a work permit for Soliman after he overstayed his tourist visa. Uber on June 2 confirmed that Soliman had worked as a driver starting in spring 2023 although the company did not specify whether he worked driving passengers or for Uber Eats, or both. In a statement to USA TODAY, the company said his account has been terminated, prohibiting him from working there again. The company noted that he passed a background check and provided the legally required documents necessary to work as a contractor.'Mr. Soliman had no concerning feedback while driving on the Uber platform,' the company said in a statement. 'We've banned the driver's account and have been in touch with law enforcement.' Speaking with investigators, Soliman said he lived at a home in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children, according to the federal affidavit. 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, records said. As officers first arrived at Soliman's home, they saw his wife leave the house. She soon arrived at an office for the Colorado Springs Police Department, where she handed over an iPhone 14 used by Soliman and other members of the family. FBI agents later searched Soliman's home in El Paso County. "The FBI is at a location in El Paso County, CO, conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity related to the attack on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder," the agency's field office in Denver said on X. "As this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information is available at this time." The agency has not provided details about what they found. J. Bishop Grewell acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, said in the news conference Soliman's family was cooperating with investigators. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn at a news conference said authorities do not believe there are any additional suspects at large in connection with the attack. "We are not going to say that with absolute certainty, because we're still conducting a lot of interviews," he told reporters, adding, "We are fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody." At the same news conference, Michalek said authorities have not found any link between the suspect and a greater criminal network or particular group. He added, however, that "this will be a thorough and complete investigation and those checks are ongoing." "We are early in the investigative process but both sides are working collaboratively and we'll see where the investigation goes," he said. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Doherty said he and his office will work with the U.S. attorney's office to determine what charges to file against Soliman. "There are a couple different options," he told reporters at a news conference. "But what I would stress now, most importantly, is that we are fully united – 100% – in making sure the charges we bring hold the attacker fully accountable." A hearing is scheduled for June 5. Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler, Trevor Hughes This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man arrested in Colorado terror attack tried to buy gun, police say
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mohamed Soliman allegedly planned Molotov cocktail attack after gun purchase denial: docs
The suspect accused of bombing a gathering of pro-Israel demonstrators said he turned to improvised explosive devices after being denied the purchase of a firearm due to his immigration status. According to an affidavit filed by the Boulder Police Department, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman told detectives that he had taken a concealed carry class in preparation to buy a firearm but was ultimately blocked from completing the purchase because he is not a U.S. citizen. "He said that he had previously tried to purchase a firearm, but resorted to the Molotov cocktails when he could not purchase a gun because he was not a legal citizen," acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado said in a news conference on Monday afternoon. With access to guns restricted, the Egyptian national revealed to authorities that he turned to YouTube to learn how to construct homemade firebombs. Boulder Illegal Immigrant Terror Suspect's 'Possible Radicalization' Probed By Authorities: Retired Fbi Agent Soliman allegedly created 18 Molotov cocktails before driving to Boulder on Sunday, June 1 and prepared for the peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators to arrive for the "Run For Their Lives," in support of the Israeli hostages. Soliman is accused of throwing two incendiary devices at the crowd. Read On The Fox News App Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty said they have identified four additional victims – bringing the total to 12. None of the victims have died. "We're going to continue to encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and contact law enforcement," Dougherty said in the Monday news conference. "But we now have 12 victims. And later this week, we'll be filing formal charges against him." Authorities said all but two victims have been released from area hospitals. They did not note the severity of the injuries from the attack. READ THE AFFIDAVIT: APP USERS, Click Here Victims and witnesses observed Soliman throw what appeared to be a glass bottle, which burst upon impact, creating large flames, the affidavit said. He also allegedly used a commercial weed sprayer as a "makeshift blowtorch." According to the affidavit, authorities discovered multiple glass bottles containing liquid, a lighter, rags, an insecticide sprayer, and an AR-style rifle BB gun in Soliman's 2015 silver Toyota Prius. Along with the materials, authorities also found a Quran and paperwork with the words, "Israel," "Palestine" and "USAID." Fbi Raids Home Of Illegal Immigrant Suspect Accused Of Firebombing Pro-israel Rally In Boulder In his interview with law enforcement, Soliman said he bore no remorse for his actions and reiterated his intent to carry them out again if given the opportunity. The affidavit noted that Soliman left behind an iPhone and a journal at his Colorado Springs home, detailing his motivations and preparations for the attack. Now facing a litany of charges – including multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and possession of incendiary devices – Soliman is being held on a $10 million bond. Dougherty outlined the severe potential penalties facing Soliman if convicted on all charges related to the June 1 attack. He faces 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder – eight for attempted murder with intent and deliberation, and eight for attempted murder with extreme indifference. If convicted and the sentences are ordered to run consecutively, he could face a maximum of 384 years in state prison for those charges alone. In addition, Soliman is charged with two counts of use of an incendiary device, which could add up to 48 years if served consecutively. He also faces 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device, carrying a potential additional 192 years. In total, the maximum possible sentence could reach 624 years if all convictions are handed down and run consecutively. Along with charges on the state level, he has also been federally charged with a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion or national origin. "No one should ever be subjected to violence of any kind. But our laws recognize that such violence is particularly pernicious when someone is targeted because of their race, their religion, or their national origin," Grewell said. "According to our complaint and the charges brought by D.A. Dougherty's office, Mr. Soliman stated that he had been planning this attack for a year, and he acted because he hated what he called the 'Zionist group.'" His next court appearance, for filing charges, will be Thursday, June 5 at 3:30 p.m. MT. Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Mohamed Soliman allegedly planned Molotov cocktail attack after gun purchase denial: docs
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Mohamed Soliman allegedly planned Molotov cocktail attack after gun purchase denial: docs
The suspect accused of bombing a gathering of pro-Israel demonstrators said he turned to improvised explosive devices after being denied the purchase of a firearm due to his immigration status. According to an affidavit filed by the Boulder Police Department, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman told detectives that he had taken a concealed carry class in preparation to buy a firearm but was ultimately blocked from completing the purchase because he is not a U.S. citizen. "He said that he had previously tried to purchase a firearm, but resorted to the Molotov cocktails when he could not purchase a gun because he was not a legal citizen," acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado said in a news conference on Monday afternoon. With access to guns restricted, the Egyptian national revealed to authorities that he turned to YouTube to learn how to construct homemade firebombs. Soliman allegedly created 18 Molotov cocktails before driving to Boulder on Sunday, June 1 and prepared for the peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators to arrive for the "Run For Their Lives," in support of the Israeli hostages. Soliman is accused of throwing two incendiary devices at the crowd. Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty said they have identified four additional victims – bringing the total to 12. None of the victims have died. "We're going to continue to encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and contact law enforcement," Dougherty said in the Monday news conference. "But we now have 12 victims. And later this week, we'll be filing formal charges against him." Authorities said all but two victims have been released from area hospitals. They did not note the severity of the injuries from the attack. READ THE AFFIDAVIT: APP USERS, CLICK HERE Victims and witnesses observed Soliman throw what appeared to be a glass bottle, which burst upon impact, creating large flames, the affidavit said. He also allegedly used a commercial weed sprayer as a "makeshift blowtorch." According to the affidavit, authorities discovered multiple glass bottles containing liquid, a lighter, rags, an insecticide sprayer, and an AR-style rifle BB gun in Soliman's 2015 silver Toyota Prius. Along with the materials, authorities also found a Quran and paperwork with the words, "Israel," "Palestine" and "USAID." In his interview with law enforcement, Soliman said he bore no remorse for his actions and reiterated his intent to carry them out again if given the opportunity. The affidavit noted that Soliman left behind an iPhone and a journal at his Colorado Springs home, detailing his motivations and preparations for the attack. Now facing a litany of charges – including multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and possession of incendiary devices – Soliman is being held on a $10 million bond. Dougherty outlined the severe potential penalties facing Soliman if convicted on all charges related to the June 1 attack. He faces 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder – eight for attempted murder with intent and deliberation, and eight for attempted murder with extreme indifference. If convicted and the sentences are ordered to run consecutively, he could face a maximum of 384 years in state prison for those charges alone. In addition, Soliman is charged with two counts of use of an incendiary device, which could add up to 48 years if served consecutively. He also faces 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device, carrying a potential additional 192 years. In total, the maximum possible sentence could reach 624 years if all convictions are handed down and run consecutively. Along with charges on the state level, he has also been federally charged with a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion or national origin. "No one should ever be subjected to violence of any kind. But our laws recognize that such violence is particularly pernicious when someone is targeted because of their race, their religion, or their national origin," Grewell said. "According to our complaint and the charges brought by D.A. Dougherty's office, Mr. Soliman stated that he had been planning this attack for a year, and he acted because he hated what he called the 'Zionist group.'" His next court appearance, for filing charges, will be Thursday, June 5 at 3:30 p.m. MT.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Who is Mohamed Soliman? Suspect arrested in Colorado terror attack.
Officials have not released many details about Soliman, but White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said on X that Soliman had overstayed his tourist visa and was in the country illegally. Soliman was booked on multiple preliminary charges including first-degree murder and using explosives or an incendiary device while committing a felony. Prosecutors are still weighting what charges to file against him. Police said Soliman was injured in the incident and taken to a hospital to be medically evaluated before being booked in the Boulder County jail. It's unclear if he has an attorney. How did the Boulder attack unfold? The Boulder Police Department was dispatched Sunday at 1:26 p.m. to the outdoor Peal Street Mall, where a man had launched an attack against a weekly, peaceful event advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza, according to police. Witnesses said the attacker used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd, said Mark Michalek, special agent in charge at the FBI's Denver field office. He said witnesses heard the suspect yell "free Palestine." Eight victims - four women and four men, ages 52 to 88 - were injured in the attack and brought to hospitals in the Denver metro area, according to the Boulder Police Department. "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," Michalek said. Suspect granted a tourist visa, work permit: White House official says Miller said in a statement on X that "A terror attack was committed in Boulder, Colorado by an illegal alien." He said Soliman was granted a tourist visa, which he eventually overstayed. Miller added that he was later given a work permit. He did not say when the visa and permit were granted, but said they were approved while former President Joe Biden was in office. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agencies in charge of approving tourist visas and work permits, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment. FBI conducts raid at suspect's home in Colorado terror attack FBI agents searched Soliman's home in El Paso County hours after he was named the suspect in the pedestrian mall attack. "The FBI is at a location in El Paso County, CO, conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity related to the attack on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder," the agency's field office in Denver said on X. "As this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information is available at this time." The agency has not provided details about the search. Did the Boulder attacker act alone? Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn at a news conference said authorities do not believe there are any additional suspects at large in connection with the attack. "We are not going to say that with absolute certainty, because we're still conducting a lot of interviews," he told reporters, adding, "We are fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody." At the same news conference, Michalek said authorities have not found any link between the suspect and a greater criminal network or particular group. He added, however, that "this will be a thorough and complete investigation and those checks are ongoing." "We are early in the investigative process but both sides are working collaboratively and we'll see where the investigation goes," he said. How will Soliman be charged? Boulder County District Attorney Michael Doherty said he and his office will work with the U.S. attorney's office to determine what charges to file against Soliman. "There are a couple different options," he told reporters at a news conference. "But what I would stress now, most importantly, is that we are fully united - 100% - in making sure the charges we bring hold the attacker fully accountable."
