Latest news with #KUSA
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boulder attack suspect had 'no regrets' over long-planned 'antisemitic' plot, officials say
The man accused of launching an "antisemitic attack" that injured at least 12 protesters with a "makeshift flamethrower" and Molotov cocktails in downtown Boulder on Sunday had "no regrets" and wanted his targets to die, Colorado officials said. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, posed as a gardener to get closer to the group of Jewish protesters, police and prosecutors said at a news conference Monday as the city's Jewish community reels from the attack. The city of Boulder said in a statement Monday night that it was a "targeted, antisemitic attack." Authorities said eight of the victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were admitted to the hospital with burns. One is a Holocaust survivor, according to a local rabbi. None have been identified publicly. At least four of the injured were hospitalized and later discharged. Two were airlifted to UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Rabbi Marc Soloway told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver. Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder after deliberation; attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference; first-degree assault, including against an at-risk victim older than 70, and possession of an incendiary device. He remains in custody on a $10 million bond. The suspect has also been federally charged with a hate crime for targeting a religious or ethnic group. If convicted on all the charges, he faces up to 192 years in prison. Authorities say the victims were participating in a peaceful rally calling for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its terrorist attack Oct. 7, 2023. The Boulder branch of the Run for Their Life, like similar offshoots across the country, has been demonstrating to raise awareness of the hostages' plight every week. Soliman shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal district court. "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,'" J. Bishop Grewell, the acting U.S. attorney for the district of Colorado, said in a news conference Monday. When interviewed about the attack, Grewell said Soliman told police he "wanted them all to die." "He had no regrets, and he would go back and do it again," Grewell said. An affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court said Soliman found out about the Run for Their Lives group online and knew it planned to meet at 1 p.m. Sunday. According to the criminal complaint and Michael Dougherty, district attorney for Boulder County, the attack could have been worse: While the suspect threw two Molotov cocktails into the crowd, police recovered 16 more from the scene. Soliman also had attempted to buy a firearm before the attack but was denied due to his immigration status, police said. The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that Soliman legally entered the country on a B2 visa, normally issued to tourists, in August 2022 and filed for asylum in September 2022. While his visa expired in February 2023, Soliman had not yet exhausted all legal options to stay in the U.S. Video from the scene apparently shows the suspect throwing the cocktails and setting himself alight in the process. Later, he can be seen shirtless, holding glass bottles containing clear liquid. Police said he had a backpack sprayer filled with gasoline and had planned to die while carrying out his plot. Fears are running high in the local Jewish community. The Boulder attack came just 11 days after a Jewish couple was shot dead outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington. That one of the victims of Sunday's attack was a Holocaust survivor was particularly upsetting and poignant for some. The attack also took place on the eve of Shavuot, an important Jewish holiday. Rabbi Fred Greene, of the Congregation Har Hashem, told NBC News: "She knows what it was like to be a child as a refugee and she goes around telling stories, not just to fight antisemitism but [to] stop the hatred of other people who are also looking for a better future in this community." Rabbi Marc Soloway, whose Congregation Bonai Shalom is attended by six of Sunday's victims, said: "This was Jewish people, many from my congregation, who were having a peaceful walk on the mall on a Sunday afternoon and they were violently and brutally attacked by fire. It brings up horrific images of our past." "Just the idea of somebody who literally has their body on fire in the middle of the mall in Boulder, Colorado, it just defies belief," he told KUSA. A community vigil will be held Wednesday evening at the Boulder Jewish Community Center. Boulder Jewish Festival, which has long been scheduled for this Sunday, will also take place as planned but will be "reimagined" in light of the attack, the center said in a Facebook post. This article was originally published on
NBC News
2 days ago
- General
- NBC News
Boulder attack suspect had 'no regrets' over long-planned 'antisemitic' plot, officials say
The man accused of launching an "antisemitic attack" that injured at least 12 protesters with a "makeshift flamethrower" and Molotov cocktails in downtown Boulder on Sunday had "no regrets" and wanted his targets to die, Colorado officials said. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, posed as a gardener to get closer to a group of Jewish protesters, police and prosecutors said at a Monday news conference as the city's Jewish community reels from the attack. The city of Boulder said in a statement Monday night that this was a "targeted, antisemitic attack." Authorities said eight of the victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88 years old, were admitted to the hospital with burns. One is a Holocaust survivor, according to a local rabbi, and is now fighting to recover from severe burns. None have been identified publicly. At least four of those injured were hospitalized but later discharged. At the same time, two were airlifted to UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Rabbi Marc Soloway told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver. Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder after deliberation; attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference; first-degree assault, including against an at-risk victim older than 70, and possession of an incendiary device. He remains in custody on a $10 million bond. The suspect has also been federally charged with a hate crime for targeting a religious or ethnic group. If convicted on all the charges, he faces up to 192 years in prison. Authorities say the victims were participating in a peaceful rally calling for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The Boulder branch of the Run For Their Life, like similar offshoots across the country, has been demonstrating to raise awareness of the hostages' plight every week. Soliman shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal district court. "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,'" Acting U.S. Attorney for the district of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell said in a Monday news conference. When interviewed about the attack, Grewell said Soliman told police he "wanted them all to die." "He had no regrets, and he would go back and do it again," Grewell said. An affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court said Soliman found out about the Run For Their Lives group online and knew they planned to meet at 1 p.m. on Sunday. According to the criminal complaint and Michael Dougherty, district attorney for Boulder County, the attack could have been even worse: while the suspect threw two Molotov cocktails into a crowd, police recovered 16 more from the scene. Soliman also had attempted to buy a firearm before the attack but was denied due to his immigration status, police said. The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that Soliman legally entered the country on a B2 visa, normally issued to tourists, in August 2022 and filed for asylum in September 2022. While his visa expired in February 2023, Soliman had not yet exhausted all legal options to stay in the U.S. Video from the scene apparently shows the suspect throwing the cocktails and setting himself alight in the process. Later, he can be seen shirtless, holding glass bottles containing clear liquid. Police said he had a backpack sprayer filled with gasoline and had planned to die while carrying out his plot. Jewish community fears Fears are running high in the local Jewish community. The Boulder attack came just 11 days after a young Jewish couple was shot dead outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington. That one of the victims of Sunday's attack was a Holocaust survivor was particularly upsetting and poignant for some. The attack also took place on the eve of Shavuot, an important Jewish holiday. Rabbi Fred Greene, of the Congregation Har Hashem, told NBC News: "She knows what it was like to be a child as a refugee and she goes around telling stories, not just to fight antisemitism but [to] stop the hatred of other people who are also looking for a better future in this community." "This was Jewish people, many many from my congregation, who were having a peaceful walk on the mall on a Sunday afternoon and they were violently and brutally attacked by fire. It brings up horrific images of our past," said Rabbi Marc Soloway, whose Congregation Bonai Shalom is attended by six of Sunday's victims. "Just the idea of somebody who literally has their body on fire in the middle of the mall in Boulder, Colorado, it just defies belief," he told KUSA. A community vigil will be held Wednesday evening at the Boulder Jewish Community Center. Boulder Jewish Festival, which has long been scheduled for this Sunday, will also take place as planned but will be "reimagined" in light of the attack, the center said in a Facebook post.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
‘It just defies belief': Bonai Shalom rabbi reacts to Colorado attack
Six members of one Jewish congregation were among the victims of an attack on a group of Israeli hostage advocates in Boulder, Colorado. KUSA's Marc Sallinger spoke to Congregation Bonai Shalom Rabbi Marc Soloway, who said it's 'inconceivable' that Jewish people 'can feel so unsafe' in the 3, 2025
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Holocaust survivor among 8 victims after bulletproof vest-clad Mohamed Sabry Soliman ‘ambushed group with flamethrower'
A HOLOCAUST survivor was one of eight people attacked in what police are calling a terrorist attack in Colorado on Sunday. The attack happened as a group peacefully gathered to raise awareness of the Israeli hostages in Gaza at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado. 6 6 A man, now identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, went behind some bushes during the weekly gathering and allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail into the crowd. He appeared to have caught himself on fire during the attack and took off his shirt, revealing what looked to be a bulletproof vest underneath. Soliman also used a makeshift flamethrower to set several people on fire while yelling "Free Palestine!" Eight people between the ages of 52 to 88 were injured in the attack, including a Holocaust survivor described as an "amazing person" by her friends. "She speaks -- she has spoken at our synagogues as well as other synagogues and schools just about her background and the Holocaust and from her own perspective," Chany Scheiner, a friend of the victim, told local NBC affiliate KUSA-TV. "She is passionate about standing up for good things and she is an extremely exceptional person. "Always a smile on her face. Her life wasn't easy, but she is just a bright light. And anybody who is her friend is a friend for life. SICK CRIME Soliman, 45, is facing several felony charges and is expected to appear in court on Monday afternoon, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. His charges include one count of explosive or incendiary devices used during a felony and two counts of first-degree assault. During the horrific scene, people rushed to help the victims, dousing them with water while Soliman was still nearby, according to witness accounts. Father of Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen criticises Netanyahu and pleads of the release of hostages Video of the attack showed one woman severely injured as bystanders poured water on her. A local store owner, who didn't want to be named, told CNN that he saw big flames as people screamed. "There were people on the ground and a bunch of others running over with buckets and bottles and whatever they could carry water in," the owner said. "Everyone was dumping water on the burned people, especially one woman on the ground who was totally torched from her hair to her legs." Chillingly, the store owner told the outlet that Soliman appeared "pretty calm" during the attack. "He would spray the liquid and spread the fire. It was pretty intense, honestly." The Department of Homeland Security also revealed that Soliman was in the US illegally after entering the country on a B2 Visa that expired in February 2023. He previously applied for asylum in the US and tried to enter the country in 2005, but his Visa was denied, reported CNN. The attack comes less than a week after a man was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington. LEADERS CONDEMN THE ATTACK Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Monday, saying he and his wife were praying for the full recovery of the victims. "This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews," he said. Netanyahu added that he's confident the US would "prosecute the cold-blooded perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law." Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett promised that justice would be served in a statement on X. "I am saddened and outraged at the appalling attack on members of Boulder's Jewish community that happened today during a peaceful gathering on Pearl Street," he wrote. "I'm confident that working with our law enforcement partners we will be able to ensure that a full investigation is made and justice will be served." 6 6 6
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Holocaust Survivor Among Victims of Boulder Attack, as Police Release Suspect's Mugshot
A Holocaust survivor was among the eight people injured in Sunday's suspected terror attack at a rally held in honor of Israeli hostages in Gaza The Boulder Police Department arrested Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, on Sunday and he now faces charges including attempted first-degree murder and assault Soliman, who allegedly attacked the group with a makeshift flamethrower and then threw an incendiary device at the group, is seen with a bandage over his ear in his mugshotOne of the eight people injured in Sunday's attack on a march in Boulder, Colo., held in honor of Israeli hostages in Gaza, was a Holocaust survivor. A friend of the victim's, whose identity has not been made public, shared this information in an interview with KUSA. "She is an amazing person," Chany Scheiner said of the female victim in an interview with the station. Scheiner added that the woman has spoken at local synagogues and schools about her life and having survived the Holocaust. "She is passionate about standing up for good things and she is an extremely exceptional person. Always a smile on her face," Scheiner said. "Her life wasn't easy, but she is just a bright light. And anybody who is her friend is a friend for life." The eight victims of Sunday's attack — four men and four women — were all between the ages of 54 and 88, a spokesperson for the city of Boulder tells PEOPLE. Their identities have not been released. All eight were participating in the peaceful event when an individual attacked the group with a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd while yelling "Free Palestine," according to a news release from the city of Boulder. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The suspect has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, according to authorities. Soliman lives in El Paso County, which is approximately 100 miles south of Boulder. Boulder County Jail records show that Soliman faces multiple charges including first-degree assault, attempted first-degree murder, criminal attempt to commit a felony and crimes against an at-risk group. Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said at a news conference on Sunday that the victims' injuries ranged from serious to minor, and noted that Soliman received treatment at a local hospital as well before being booked into jail. Soliman can be seen with a heavy bandage on his ear in his mugshot. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now working with the Boulder Police Department to "process the crime scene, interview witnesses and gather evidence," according to the release. That same release also said that the FBI "is investigating the attack as a targeted act of terrorism." Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, later confirmed that on X, writing: "FBI personnel are on the scene in Boulder, Colo., along with local law enforcement. We are investigating this incident as an act of terror, and targeted violence." Chief Redfearn tried to provide some words of comfort for residents of the city on Sunday, saying: 'Boulder is not immune to tragedy sadly and I know a lot of people are scared right now and questioning how this happened and why." He continued: "Boulder has recovered from acts of violence before and we will again recover. I urge this community to come together. Now is not the time to be divisive." Anyone with information about the Boulder attack is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with digital media — videos, social media posts, digital recordings — is asked to upload that at Read the original article on People
